President touts Taiwan’s Achievements in Harvard Videoconference

President Ma Ying-jeou took part in a videoconference hosted by the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University on April 6, 2010 and delivered a speech entitled “The Quest for Modernity.” In his remarks, the president noted that a truly modern society should seek not only wealth and power but also the foundations of freedom and democracy. He shared that Taiwan has built all three of these pillars.

In the realm of economics, President Ma pointed out that after 18 months of effort, his administration had successfully brought Taiwan out of the downturn caused by the global financial crisis. Increasing employment opportunities in the green energy sector would remain a top priority, he said.

In addition, the president reiterated the necessity of signing an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with mainland China, emphasizing that an ECFA would spearhead Taiwan’s return to economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region and enhance Taiwan’s competitive edge in the global market.

With regard to military affairs and foreign relations, the president said that his administration does not merely seek to increase military strength but also to build up Taiwan’s soft power. Re-establishing mutual trust with key international partners, especially the United States, is the core of foreign policy. Ma stressed that Taiwan would not take further steps to negotiate a cross-strait peace agreement unless mainland China removes the missiles it has deployed targeting Taiwan.

Although some people in Taiwan have expressed reservations about the government’s policies concerning mainland China, President Ma pointed out, the cross-strait relationship must be transformed from a burden into an asset. The president pledged to pursue policies beneficial to Taiwan.

The year 2011 will see the centennial of the Republic of China’s founding. Against the backdrop of thousands of years of Chinese history, the last century was in some ways merely a comma. But from a larger perspective, it was nothing short of an exclamation mark. Transfers of power between political parties in 2000 and 2008 have consolidated Taiwan’s democracy, the president said in closing, vowing to turn his efforts to transforming Taiwan into a democratic model.

Please visit Taiwan Today for related stories:
1. Ma recaps administration achievements to Harvard academics (April 6, 2010)
http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=97582&CtNode=436
2. President Ma equates ECFA with economic prosperity
(April 2, 2010)
http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=97366&CtNode=436

Presse Release, Government Information Office of Taiwan, 07.04.2010

Die Presseabteilung der Taipeh Vertretung mit Sitz in Berlin bietet folgende Dienstleistungen an: Erläuterung der Politik und der Entwicklung der Republik China (Taiwan), Verbreitung von Stellungnahmen und Pressemitteilungen von taiwanischer Seite sowie Beantwortung von Fragen über das Land;
Angebot von Informationsmaterial über Taiwan in deutscher, englischer, und chinesischer Sprache (Broschüren, Filme, Videos, DVDs, Diafilme, CDs);
Anlaufstelle für deutsche Medienvertreter, Angebot von Informationsreisen nach Taiwan für deutsche Journalisten;
Organisation von Veranstaltungen mit dem Ziel, Kontakte zwischen Deutschland und Taiwan zu vertiefen (Vorträge, Seminare, Ausstellungen, Filmfestivals etc.);
Sonstige Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Presseabteilung Taipeh Vertretung
Markgrafenstr. 35
10117 Berlin

This release was published on openPR.