The Executive Yuan today invited 20 leaders from across the social spectrum to serve as consultants for a national conference on economic and trade affairs which will be held in late July.
To collect a wide and balanced spectrum of feedback and suggestions, this panel shall comprise scholars and experts, representatives from industries, labor unions and non-profit organizations, and senior statesmen, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun said.
A preparatory meeting will be convened shortly to discuss the conference's agenda, procedure and schedule as well as the principles and methods to elect the representatives who shall attend it, stated Sun.
The 20 members of the panel, in alphabetical order, are:
Chen Rui (President, Chinese Federation of Labor)
Chen Tain-jy (Professor, National Taiwan University)
Chen Wei-jao (Professor, National Taiwan University)
Chiang Pin-kung (former Chairman, Straits Exchange Foundation)
Christina Sung (Chairman, Taipei 101)
Chuang Chueh-an (President, Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions)
Ho Chih-chin (former Minister of Finance; Executive Vice President of National Cheng Kung University)
Ho Mei-yueh (former Minister, Council of Economic Planning and Development, Executive Yuan)
Hsu Sheng-hsiung (Chairman, Chinese National Federation of Industries)
Jan Hung-tze (Chairman, Taiwan Internet E-Commerce Association)
Lai Cheng-I (Chairman, General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China)
Lin Hsin-I (former Vice Premier)
Lin Hwei-yen (Chairperson, National Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, ROC)
Sunny Lin (Chief Executive Officer & concurrently Editor-in-Chief, Social Enterprise Insights)
T.H. Tung (Chairman, Taiwan Computer Association)
Tung Wen-ya (President, Taiwan Federation of Labor)
Weng Chi-huey (President, Academia Sinica)
Wu Se-hwa (President, National Chengchi University)
Yiin Chii-ming (former Minister without Portfolio, Executive Yuan)
Yu Guo-hua (Chairman, Performing Arts Alliance)
The conference, which the premier announced some days ago, will address issues such as cross-strait interaction and the strategy Taiwan ought to take amidst the global trend of regional economic integration, Sun said. It is meant to provide a platform for fair and sensible exchanges of all citizens' opinions, allowing for diverse perspectives to be presented with a view to forging a consensus between ruling and opposition parties on future economic and trade development.
Popular online social networks and related interactive tools will be used to consult with young people on the discussion topics, make conference information more transparent, conduct public opinion polls and allow social network users to recommend conference representatives. The government hopes that by introducing this method of public participation the event will be able to collect the views and interests of all citizens.
In advance of the national event, regional economic and trade affairs conferences will be held in northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan respectively in late June.