Taipei, Sept. 16 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian touted the work he has done to promote the wellbeing of the island's aborigines to a group of aboriginal elected officials Tuesday.
The president noted that he set up the country's first Council of Aboriginal Affairs while he served as Taipei mayor.
He said his presidential campaign promise to form a new partnership between the government and the island's aborigines has translated into policy carried out by the Council of Aboriginal Affairs (CAA) under the Executive Yuan.
In order to follow through on his campaign promises, the president said the CAA has set aside NT$546 million every year to finance the basic expenditures of aboriginal townships and cities, expanding public service programs in aboriginal communities and creating 9,900 new jobs for aborigines, as well as funnelling NT$1.5 billion toward public projects in aboriginal communities for this year alone.