TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Speaking at the Hakka Affairs Council’s annual award banquet on Sunday, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) pledged to continue supporting Hakka culture as an important aspect of Taiwan’s diverse society.

The Hakka Commendation Awards ceremony was held at the Taipei Grand Hotel on Sunday, which was also National Hakka Day. The event honored outstanding individuals for their contributions to enrich and preserve Hakka cultural traditions in Taiwan, per a press release.

During his remarks, Lai said he was thankful that Saturday’s earthquake did not cause major damage, which might have kept him from attending the award ceremony. Lai commended the winners and Taiwan’s Hakka community for their dedication to ensuring cultural traditions will continue to flourish for future generations.

It has been 37 years since Hakka intellectuals launched the movement to “Restore the Mother Tongue” in 1988. The movement marked an increased focus on Hakka language education and greater use of the language in publishing and public broadcasting.

The president noted that the government’s recent establishment of a Hakka Youth Advisory Committee will allow young people to become more active in public affairs by sharing their creative energies. He also said that Hakka film and television production have received numerous international accolades in recent years, and the Hakka communities' digital presence is also thriving, Lai noted.

As the government strives to ensure the budget allocation plans for 2026 will be implemented smoothly, Lai promised that Taiwan will remain committed to revitalizing Hakka culture. Lai thanked everyone for their combined efforts to preserve and expand Hakka language education and to promote strong communities, which are crucial for Taiwan's democratic society.