Taipei, July 23 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged overseas Taiwan businessmen, commonly known as "taishang, " to return home to cash in on Taiwan's new economic boom.
Chen made the appeal while meeting with representatives of the Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Asia (CTCCA).
Quoting forecasts by several private economic think tanks, Chen said Taiwan's economic growth rate will reach 6 percent or even higher this year. "This indicates that our economy has resumed robust growth. We welcome all overseas Taiwan businessmen to return to share the new benefits," Chen said.
He also expressed gratitude for the CTCCA's fund-raising drive in the wake of the devastation wrought by typhoon Mindulle in central Taiwan earlier this month. "Your generous donation has contributed to our post-disaster relief and rehabilitation projects," Chen said.
During the meeting, Chen reaffirmed his determination to lay a solid foundation for Taiwan's sustainable development, including promoting ethnic harmony and social stability, as well as stabilizing cross-Taiwan Strait relations. "We need a stable environment to facilitate various reforms and deepen our young democracy for the ultimate goal of sustainable national development. All these are promises I made in my May 20 inaugural speech. I'll honor all of them," Chen said.
Stressing that his administration has spared no efforts to push for financial reform and market liberalization in the past four years, Chen said Taiwan's investment climate has improved greatly.