Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday the newly appointed Cabinet would continue to push for reforms and realize the policy goals set down by President Chen Shui-bian (
"The ruling party of France suffered a dramatic setback during a regional election in late March due to French President Jacques Chirac's failing to push for reforms," Yu said. "Although we may run into many obstacles down the road of reform, we cannot let the people down and should continue down the path."
Yu made the remark during the swearing-in ceremony for Cabinet officials at the Executive Yuan yesterday afternoon. Yu was sworn in to continue as premier following Chen's inauguration yesterday morning.
Yu sobbed when commenting on the departure of outgoing Cabinet colleagues and expressed his gratitude for their work.
He said he hoped the new Cabinet would do its best to create a brighter future for the country and build on the foundation laid down by its predecessors.
"Building the country is like running a relay race. Once you're on the mark, you're set to race with time and there's little time to stop to take a breath," Yu said. "Even though the weight of the baton might be more than we can bear, we'll adhere to the pioneering spirit of our ancestors to make this small island play a more pivotal role in the Pacific Rim."
The mission of the new Cabinet, Yu said, is to lead the nation in braving the next wave of challenges and putting into practice the policy goals set down by Chen, which include stabilizing cross-strait relations, promoting stability in society and creating a prosperous economy.
Yu also pledged to right the wrongs committed during the 50-year reign of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
"We'll exert ourselves to create a better life for the people and give them back the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including dignity, fairness, justice, prosperity, quality, security and peace," Yu said.
Without the transfer of power in 2000, he said, the entanglement of party and state could not have been ended and the mistakes made over the past 50 years could not have been corrected.
Yu said the transfer of power paved the way for an independent judicial system and has allowed for progress in fighting "black gold" politics and vote-buying.
The change of ruling party also allowed a consensus to be reached on creating a "nuclear-free homeland" and an endorsement of sustainable development, according to the premier.
Although the road to democracy was bumpy, Yu said, the nation's democratic development has proven to be a success story under the leadership of Chen and thanks to the efforts of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
Later yesterday afternoon, Yu visited the leaders of the four other government branches.
RESTAURANT POISONING? Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang at a press conference last night said this was the first time bongkrekic acid was detected in Taiwan An autopsy discovered bongkrekic acid in a specimen collected from a person who died from food poisoning after dining at the Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said at a news conference last night. It was the first time bongkrekic acid was detected in Taiwan, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang (王必勝) said. The testing conducted by forensic specialists at National Taiwan University was facilitated after a hospital voluntarily offered standard samples it had in stock that are required to test for bongkrekic acid, he said. Wang told the news conference that testing would continue despite
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
WIDE NET: Health officials said they are considering all possibilities, such as bongkrekic acid, while the city mayor said they have not ruled out the possibility of a malicious act of poisoning Two people who dined at a restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 last week have died, while four are in intensive care, the Taipei Department of Health said yesterday. All of the outlets of Malaysian vegetarian restaurant franchise Polam Kopitiam have been ordered to close pending an investigation after 11 people became ill due to suspected food poisoning, city officials told a news conference in Taipei. The first fatality, a 39-year-old man who ate at the restaurant on Friday last week, died of kidney failure two days later at the city’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. A 66-year-old man who dined
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