Taipei, Nov. 9 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian called Thursday on the people of Taiwan to redouble their efforts to promote knowledge-based economic development in line with global development trends.
In an address to a gathering marking the 54th annual Industry Day, Chen said that Taiwan has the potential to develop into a knowledge-based economy and warned that in this changing world, Taiwan has no choice but to catch up with world trends in this regard.
The government has already mapped out a 10-year economic development plan with the aim of building Taiwan into a "green silicon island" and a high-tech hub in Asia, Chen noted.
"We acknowledge that knowledge will become an essential power to prop up economic development in Taiwan," the president said, adding that the combination of creativity, speed and value will help restructure Taiwan's industries.
He said that Taiwan should resolve the following issues before entering the age of the knowledge-based economy:
--put relatively more effort and money into research and development than developed countries;
--educate and tap more talent by strengthening the nation's educational and vocational training institutes;
--amend conservative regulations stipulated in company charters so as to cultivate creativity and vigor; and
--continue to strengthen the country's infrastructure construction to meet the demands of the knowledge-based economy.
Chen also exhorted both the government and the private sector to try to restore the "spirit of mutual trust and assistance" that created Taiwan's economic miracle. He urged the people of the island to work together irrespective of their political or regional background to build Taiwan into "a green silicon island."