Taichung, Taiwan, July 28 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian offered new promises Monday for central Taiwan's development, including the construction of a world-class arts center.
Chen made the remarks while presiding over a joint ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the island's third science-based industrial park in Taichung County and a plant for the production of large flat panels with investment from AU Optronics Corp. -- Taiwan's leading manufacturer of thin-film-thermometer liquid crystal displays.
Chen said it took only 10 months and five days for his administration to complete preparations for the start of the high-tech park construction. "When the project was first announced last year, some people were doubtful about its prospects. From selecting a site to launching construction, we spent just 10 months and five days. From now on, nobody should question my administration's ability to deliver on my campaign promises," Chen said.
Building a high-tech industrial park in central Taiwan, patterned on the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park in the north and the Tainan Industrial Park in the south, is one of the "three thirds" promises Chen made to central Taiwan residents in the run-up to the 2000 presidential election. The other two are the merger of Taichung City and Taichung County into a special municipality like Taipei and Kaohsiung and the construction of the island's third international airport at Chingchuankang.
With construction on the industrial park getting underway, Chen said the two other promises will also be delivered in phases.
Meanwhile, Chen announced new development projects in central Taiwan -- constructing the island's third expressway in the Greater Taichung area (Fengyuan to Wufeng), building a world-class museum in the Taichung area and elevating the Fengyuan-Tantzu-Taichung City-Wuji section of the island's trunk railway to facilitate regional transportation services.