Taiwanese should try to understand their country because true confidence emerges from a robust knowledge of a nation's capacity and the strength its people possess, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said on Saturday.
Hsieh made the remarks as he concluded the first stop of a nationwide campaign tour dubbed the "New Six Stars Plan."
Hsieh started his tour in Hualien County on Thursday and plans to stay for three days at each stop, visiting industries and meeting grassroots supporters.
After three days of touring local communities, Hsieh said he has come to a deeper understanding of Taiwan's strength.
"Every time when I visit a community, I see the strength and vigor of our people and hear many heartwarming real-life stories. The tour has afforded me a valuable opportunity to understand Hualien's unique features and merits and enhance my confidence in Taiwan's future," Hsieh said.
Hsieh said the development of eastern Taiwan should not follow the mode adopted in the western part of the country because the two areas have different resources.
For instance, eastern Taiwan is rich in maritime and tourist resources that should be developed in environmentally friendly ways, he said.
Because the "New Six Stars Plan" is aimed at transforming Taiwan into a globally competitive country, Hsieh said that under the plan, Taiwan can be divided into six regions, with each region roughly comparable to Singapore in size.
The plan calls on each region to cooperate with the others to share resources.
Hsieh will continue his campaign tour this week with visits to Taitung and Ilan County.
When Hsieh was premier in 2005, he also promoted a "Six Stars Plan." The six stars refer to developing local businesses, improving social welfare and the medical system, promoting cultural and educational development, maintaining public safety, protecting the environment and striving to protect natural resources.
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