President Lee Teng-hui this morning told representatives of the Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Asia that ROC enterprises' internationalization efforts in the past decade to establish in the Asia-Pacific market an effective trade and industrial system of division of work, together with the close links forged by overseas Chinese traders, will form a competitive edge that will enable Taiwan to take a leading place in the new Asian century.
President Lee pointed out that Asia's emergence as an economic power is the most astonishing development among the drastic changes that have swept the global economy in recent years. Looking to the future, he said, East Asia is still an important region for global economic development and serves as a base for multinational enterprises.
"Taiwan is endowed with favorable advantages which will enable the island to control favorable trends in the new century in East Asia, as well as provide a good opportunity for Taiwan traders to develop their business," the President told his guests.
Accompanied by Mr. James C. Y. Chu, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, a total of 99 representatives of Taiwan traders in Asia came to the Office of the President for the meeting . Dr. Huang Kun-huei, secretary-general to the President , was also present.
President Lee noted that Taiwan's abundant high-tech manpower and strong research and development abilities posses the primary forces pushing industrial and commercial development on the island.
The government is now restructuring its economic and trade system to embark upon a national development program to fully upgrade Taiwan's competitiveness, he added.
President Lee, at the end of the meeting, thanked overseas Chinese traders for their contributions to Taiwan's economic development, and hoped that they can stand together to help upgrade Taiwan's economy and reach the pinnacle of world competitiveness.