National identity is an important issue and there is much room for improvement in this regard, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said Sunday.
"In Taiwan I see many people, including myself, not doing enough to identify with the country, although we've made some effort," Yu said during a banquet with overseas Chinese Sunday evening.
In addition to identifying with the country of their birth, Yu said expatriates should identify with their host countries as well.
"It's equally important for overseas Chinese to identify with their host countries and blend into local communities because it's conducive to the development of that country," Yu said.
Yu added that overseas Chinese have played and will continue to play an important role in maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait.
"The key to world peace lies in the Asia Pacific region, and the key to peace in that area lies in peace across the Taiwan Strait," Yu said. "Although China has not reciprocated the many goodwill gestures expressed by the Chen [Shui-bian] administration, we'll continue the efforts because we don't want to have any wars."
Yu also lauded overseas Chinese for their contributions to economic development in Costa Rica and the cordial friendship between the people of the two countries.
The premier also urged overseas Chinese to help attract more Costa Rican tourists to Taiwan. Noting that the government has drafted an ambitious plan to double the number of tourist arrivals to Taiwan, Yu said he hopes all Chinese residents in Cost Rica can help promote Taiwan's tourism industry.
On Sunday morning, Yu visited the Puntarenas pier and inspected the construction site for the Bridge of Taiwan Friendship.
Brushing aside criticism that the project is an example of "dollar diplomacy," Yu said cooperation projects funded by the Taiwan government in Costa Rica demonstrate the strong friendship between the two countries.
"Taiwan and Costa Rica are brothers, and that's why we fund and construct infrastructure projects here," Yu said. "When I go back to Taiwan, I'll tell the people of Taiwan that Costa Rica is a beautiful place and that cooperation projects here have been successful."
To express gratitude for Taiwan's generous aid, the Puntarenas City government organized a grand welcoming ceremony for Yu and presented him with the keys to the city.
The premier said Taiwan and Costa Rica have shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights. "These common convictions have made us good friends," he noted.
The US$27 million bridge project, connecting San Jose and Nicoya peninsula, is funded by the Taiwan government and is being carried out by Taiwan's Retired Servicemen Engineering Agency.
Construction began in July 2000 and is expected to be completed by October.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to reduce travel time from the capital of San Jose to Nicoya from two hours to 90 minutes by car.
The Puntarenas pier is another cooperation project funded by the Taiwan government. The NT$15 million project, completed in October 1999, was constructed to improve Puntarenas City's local economy and boost its tourism industry.
In addition to the two projects, other infrastructure projects funded by Taiwan include the San Carlos highway, which is currently in the planning process. Construction is scheduled to start in November.
In addition, Taiwan Sugar Co (TaiSugar) provides technology assistance to improve the production and quality of bananas and orchids. Agricultural teams also offer assistance to improve the quality of vegetables, flowers and fisheries in addition to teaching interested locals how to make furniture or build houses out of bamboo.
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