President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday promised to facilitate reforms and cautiously promote cross-strait relations during his second term in office as he received the certificate of election from the Central Election Commission.
Ma said his re-election on Saturday reflected public support for his administration’s performance in reviving the economy, building a clean government and improving cross-strait relations, and promised to push for more reforms in the next four years.
“The developments should not stop, and therefore, the government must examine the performance of the past three years and make the necessary adjustments, so that we can do even better,” he said as he received the certificate from Central Election Commission Chairperson Chang Po-ya (張博雅) in the Presidential Office.
Meeting with the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential campaign staff in Taipei later in the day to thank them for their effort, Ma hailed the democratic processes in the presidential and legislative elections as a model for China, while praising his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opponent, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), for playing a gentleman’s game in the election.
“Chairperson Tsai acknowledged her defeat and demonstrated a gracious manner in a democratic society. Many people from mainland China watched our elections on the Internet ... I will adopt the criticisms and advice my opponents made during the campaign,” he said.
Ma said the elections allowed younger generations in China to see a democratic system at work and promised to ensure that the interests of Taiwanese are the priority while promoting cross-strait relations.
During his second and final term, Ma said the government would aim to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and revive the economy.
His administration will make adjustments to the judicial system, but not interfere with individual cases, he said.
Stressing his Taiwanese identity amid criticisms of his pro-China stance, Ma said that he would devote all his effort to the development of Taiwan, even after he leaves office.
“There are no pressures for re-election during my second term, but I will have pressure on how history will judge me ... And I will do better in my second term,” he said.
Meanwhile, Premier and vice president-elect Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) received his certificate of election at the Executive Yuan.
Wu said he felt it was a great honor when the certificate was conferred upon on him, adding that he also felt great responsibility.
“I will devote my wisdom and be faithful to the country. I will do my job at full speed,” he said, adding that he would assist the president in accordance with the Constitution to ensure the smooth operation of the government to live up to the public’s expectations.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan
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