Taipei, Dec. 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian encouraged local youth Tuesday to weave dreams and take action to realize them regardless of how many difficulties they may encounter along the way. "A brave heart plus hard work and action are the keys to success and good fortune," Chen said.
The president made the remarks while presiding over the graduation ceremony of the first group of Presidential Fellows.
Over the past year, Chen said, the young volunteers have injected youthful vitality and fresh ideas into Presidential Office operations.
Saying that "young leaders and an exuberant Taiwan" were part of his 2000 presidential campaign theme, Chen said he has managed to lead Taiwan in overcoming many difficulties and challenges over the past three-and-a-half years with "faith in Taiwan and insistence on reform."
Through the concerted efforts of the government and the people, Chen said, Taiwan recorded a 3.59 percent economic growth rate last year, far higher than those recorded in the United States, Japan, France and Hong Kong. And the nation's jobless rate declined to 4.71 percent in November, lower than those of Germany, France, Hong Kong and Canada.
Chen said he is confident that Taiwan's unemployment rate will drop further to 4.5 percent in the coming year, while the economic growth rate will reach 5 percent.
More important, Chen said, local banks' non-performing loan ratio has fallen to 5.01 percent from a high of 8.09 percent in 2001 through a series of reform efforts. "We have completed the tough task of streamlining our financial institutions and sparing Taiwan a financial crisis," he claimed.