New administrative and political vice ministers appointed

Following in the wake of Steve Chen's (陳瑞隆) appointment as Minister of Economic Affairs last week, Government Information Office Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) yesterday announced new administrative and political vice ministers of economic affairs.

Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥), current administrative vice minister, will be promoted to political vice minister and his post will be filled by Hsieh Fa-ta (謝發達), vice chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, Cheng announced at a press briefing.

"The promotions of Shih and Hsieh were decided after discussions between Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and new Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen," Cheng said.

Hsieh, 56, earned a master's degree in economics from National Chengchi University, passed the Ministry of Economic Affairs' foreign representatives' exam in 1977 and has rich experience in foreign trade gleaned from his previous appointments in South Africa, North America and Australia.

Before serving as a vice chairman at the Council for Economic Planning and Development in February 2002, Hsieh was secretary-general of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, director of the ministry's Department of International Cooperation, and director of the division of the Bureau of Foreign Trade that handles exchanges with the WTO, APEC, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other international business organizations.

Meanwhile, Preston Chen (陳武雄), chairman of the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI, 全國工業總會) which represents some 70,000 Taiwanese manufacturers, yesterday paid a visit to the ministry and urged the government to help attract overseas-based Taiwanese businessmen to return home while simultaneously easing restrictions on China-bound investment.

Accompanied by several CNFI representatives, Preston Chen submitted a number of proposals to the new minister for his consideration.