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Ma promises closer links with local governments

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) met local government heads yesterday and promised not only to forge closer relations between central and local governments but to help improve local governments’ finances.

All the pan-blue local government chiefs attended the gathering at the Presidential Office, but only five of the seven heads of cities and counties in southern Taiwan that are under Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) control were there.

Pingtung County Commissioner Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) and Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) were absent because of scheduling conflicts.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) sat at the same table with Ma.

Ma expressed his support for local autonomy and encouraged local government chiefs to strengthen local development.

CHINA VISITS

The president also urged them to promote unique features of their cities and counties to the Chinese in the wake of the Executive Yuan’s decision to relax the restrictions on local government chiefs visiting China yesterday.

“Opening the way for city and county chiefs to visit China is local autonomy, and I encourage you to take the chance to promote the spirit of local autonomy in Taiwan to our friends in China,” the president said.

COOPERATION

He also urged the pan-green chiefs to forget election disagreements and work together for the people.

“We have different political concerns during campaigns. When elections are over, we should focus on administrative issues and joint efforts to resolve problems,” he said.
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