Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) yesterday vowed to work for prosperity, sustainability and a fair distribution of wealth at the ceremony to install the new Cabinet.
Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) handed over premiership to Liu under the supervision of Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) at the Executive Yuan yesterday.
Liu expressed thanks to Chang for his Cabinet’s efforts to stabilize the nation’s political situation and ensure continuity in policies, and expressed gratitude for the outgoing Cabinet’s cooperation with the incoming government as it prepared to hand over power.
PHOTO: CNA
Liu, who was vice premier when the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) handed over the reins to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000, said it was the wish of the public that the government pursue progress regardless of which party is in power.
“We will proceed with [the DPP] government’s good policies, come up with proposals for policies that require adjusting, execute the platform of [President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Siew] and map out forward-looking policies,” Liu said.
In his speech, Chang, who served two terms as premier under the DPP administration, praised the nation for its democratic achievements.
“Since Taiwan held the [first] direct presidential election in 1996, no matter how ferocious election campaigns have been, power has been transferred peacefully. That reflects progress and democracy in Taiwan. It’s a hard-earned achievement,” Chang said. “We have demonstrated to the whole world our progress and democracy through today’s transfer of power. It’s a historic moment.”
Siew commended Chang and his administrative team for their painstaking efforts during the caretaker period between the March 22 presidential election and yesterday’s installment of the new administration.
Chang has set a positive example for statesmen through his deeds, which kept the political situation stable during the caretaker period and enhanced the public’s confidence in the nation’s democracy, Siew said.
After the ceremony, Liu escorted Chang on his way out of the Executive Yuan.
Liu tripped while walking down the stairs in the lobby of the Executive Yuan hall, nearly falling.
“I am fine. My kung fu is very good,” Liu, a martial arts fiction fan and author of more than 10 martial arts novels, joked in response to reporters’ questions.
In related news, Jason Yuan (袁健生) has been tapped by the Ma administration to serve as the nation’s representative to Washington, US sources said yesterday.
Sources said the US government was expected to accept Yuan’s appointment soon.
Yuan served as the nation’s representative to Canada and Panama and as director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Los Angeles under the last KMT administration.
He has served as the KMT’s representative to the US since 2004.
Meanwhile, Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Taiwan’s current representative to the US, has handed in his resignation.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
RSS