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Chen says Taiwan is a driving force for development

Taiwan's economic achievement remains a driving force for the promotion of economic development in the Pacific region, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.

Making the remarks in his opening speech at an international conference held by the Taipei secretariat of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee (PECC), the president said that Taiwan could play an active role promoting economic development in the Pacific region.

Chen told his audience he had repeatedly mentioned the importance of establishing the Pacific Economic Community because democracy, economy and prosperity are not just universal values, but also three pillars supporting such an organization.

"That's why Taiwan, as part of the Pacific Ocean community, cannot be absent from the process of setting up the Pacific Economic Community," he said.

Taiwan has been promoting the establishment of the Pacific Economic Community for more than a decade in a bid to unite economies in the region to pursue joint interests.

Chen yesterday praised the importance of the PECC, saying that the committee should become a bridge between the nation and the Pacific Economic Community.

"Taiwan's democratic achievement and economic development are the 23 million Taiwanese people's common valuable assets, which connects Taiwan and the world," Chen said.

He said that Taiwan, a country in a diplomatic plight, has to take advantage wisely of the platforms presented by international organizations or NGOs in a bid to contribute to the world.

Taiwan has been a member of PECC for 20 years (under the name "Chinese Taipei") and actively participating in related affairs had been one of main focuses for the country's diplomatic affairs, according to Chen.

Citing a survey released last week by the Government Information Office, which was commissioned the US-based Gallup Organization to study Taiwan's image among opinion leaders and the general public in the US, Japan, France, Germany and the UK, Chen said that more than half of the respondents had favorable impressions of Taiwan.
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