A high-ranking DPP official said yesterday that since the government has done well in the fields of diplomacy and economy, the party is confident of winning next year's presidential election.
Lee Ying-yuan (
Lee noted that President Chen Shui-bian's (
Based on this principle, Taiwan has scored well in its diplomacy, Lee said, citing as examples the first lady's visits to the US and Europe in recent years, Vice President Annette Lu's (呂秀蓮) current visit to Latin America, as well as the upcoming 2003 Democratic Pacific Conference to be held in Taipei in September with the purpose of establishing an alliance to unite Pacific Rim democratic countries.
Regarding the economy, Lee said the government has helped several state-run companies that were in the red to begin making a profit -- including China Shipbuilding Corporation and Tang Eng Iron Works Corporation.
Taiwan's economic growth has outperformed that of many countries, the stock and real estate markets are booming, and foreign reserves will reach US$180 billion at the end of this year, an increase of US$70 billion over that of the previous government, Lee noted.
In addition, Lee said, the government will push for the downsizing of the legislature.
Lee said that in the past, the topic of referendums was taboo, while now more than 50 percent of the people support the idea.
The government plans to hold a referendum on several major policies, including the fate of the country's Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Organization before or on the day of next year's presidential election on March 20.
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