Taiwan not only boasts outstanding economic performance and impressive achievements in promoting freedom and democracy, but is also the first democratic country in the ethnic Chinese world, Premier Lin Chuan said today at a national day celebration. Nevertheless, he said, instead of complacency, Taiwan should continue working to improve its society.
The premier accompanied President Tsai Ing-wen to the activity hosted by the Overseas Community Affairs Council to celebrate the Republic of China's 105th National Day, which falls on October 10.
The premier pointed out that the nation has been facing numerous challenges over the past few years including the global economic downturn, lackluster domestic economic growth, a widening gap between rich and poor, a dwindling birthrate and demographic aging, issues that will require vision, planning, and step-by-step measures to bring about change.
To resolve these long-standing structural problems, the Executive Yuan has specified "innovation, employment and equitable distribution" as the guiding principles for Taiwan's future economic development based on President Tsai's administrative blueprint, the premier said, adding that pension reforms and a long-term care service system are also being promoted to further consolidate the nation's social security network.
Turning to industrial policies, the premier said the government is currently promoting five major innovative industries—biomedicine, an Asian Silicon Valley, intelligent machinery, green energy technology and national defense—planning to cooperate with the private sector to promote the cluster effect, which in turn will help spur industrial upgrading, create more jobs and raise national income.
As for global competition for top talent and the domestic brain drain, the premier said the government is working to relax the relevant regulations, building a friendly environment to retain talent, and providing more incentives to attract foreign talent and overseas ethnic Chinese students to work and live in Taiwan.
As part of the government's New Southbound Policy, Taiwan youth are encouraged to seek employment or internships at Taiwanese enterprises operating in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian countries, while colleges and universities are encouraged to set up branches overseas to help ASEAN and South Asian countries cultivate local talent, the premier said. He also expressed hope that Taiwan will have more opportunities to collaborate with these countries on economic and trade cooperation, talent exchanges, resource sharing and regional connectivity.
Premier Lin also called on overseas ethnic Chinese communities and Taiwanese businesspeople to offer Taiwan more support, increasing their investments or setting up companies here, and building more connections with Taiwan in terms of overseas experiences, professional capabilities, human relations and business channels. Taiwan also welcomes the children of overseas compatriots and Taiwanese businesspersons to return to Taiwan for studies, employment and settlement, he said.
Under President Tsai's leadership, the premier said, the entire administrative team will keep working hard for Taiwan citizens in a humble, pragmatic and proactive manner. Hopefully overseas compatriots and Taiwanese businesspeople can continue standing firm behind the government in its endeavor to build the Republic of China in Taiwan into a paragon of democracy and freedom in the ethnic Chinese world, he said.