President Chen Shui-bian received the award winners of the 2005 Chinese Institute of Engineers and the Japanese specialists of the 25th Taiwan-Japan Colloquium on Technical Engineering this morning. The president especially expressed his welcome to the engineering specialists coming from Japan to share the newest information on technology and exchange their experiences on the newest techniques of engineering. The president believes that this is a precious opportunity for both sides to communicate.
The president's speech is as follows:
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to receive the winners of this year's Distinguished Engineering Award and the engineering specialists coming from Japan, sharing this honor and jubilance. The screening of this year's winners of the "Engineering Medal," "Distinguished Engineering Professor Award," "Distinguished Engineer" and the "Young Engineer Award" as well as the "25th Taiwan-Japan Colloquium on Technical Engineering" are organized by the Chinese Institute of Engineers, which is itself of the same age as the Republic of China and was established 94 years ago.
The Chinese Institute of Engineers is not only the oldest professional institute in Taiwan, but also a very influential institution. During the past years, the Chinese Institute of Engineers has been strengthening exchanges between Taiwan and foreign countries, introducing new engineering techniques, promoting the development of high-technology and consolidating engineering education in the country as well as encouraging young students to pursue higher levels of study and to contribute their professionalism to the country's competitiveness. The Chinese Institute of Engineers has long been playing an important role in these endeavors.
Due to historical reasons, Japanese engineers had designed and supervised the construction of Taiwan's infrastructure, such as the irrigation systems, power supply and transportation systems, during the past century when the island was at the gate of modernization. After the Second World War, economic and trade exchanges between Taiwan and Japan have become even more active. Nowadays, Japan is the world leader in the development of many kinds of technologies. Taiwan has much to learn from the Japanese government and the private sector in the promotion of technology development, introduction of innovation and the elevation of management. I hope that the Taiwan-Japan Colloquium on Technical Engineering could serve as a platform to promote mutual friendship and to boost technological development through closer cooperation.
The annual awards given by the "Chinese Institute of Engineers" include the most-coveted "Engineering Medal," the highest honor bestowed to an engineer. Mr. Shen Jing-peng, chairman of RSEA Engineering Corporation, is more than justified to win this award this year as he has contributed much to the nation's engineering sector. In addition, there are "Outstanding Engineering Professor," "Outstanding Engineer," and "Outstanding Young Engineer" awards, totaling 26 in numbers. All these winners distinguish themselves in their special fields and in the promotion of engineering education and upgrade of technological development.
I hope that the honor bestowed on each of you is not only a confirmation of your achievement but would also serve as an incentive to induce the younger engineers to seek further advancement. I believe that through your exemplary work and under your guidance, a new horizon of prosperity and a bright future in the engineering industry could be expected, further boosting Taiwan's industrial advancement and economic growth and sustaining the improvement of people's livelihood.
Looking back to the past years, the "Ten Major Construction Projects" launched in the 1970s, the technology industry development launched in the 1980s and the upgrade of industry in the 1990s, the "Challenge 2008: Six-Year National Development Plan" and the "New Ten Major Construction Projects" are the fruits of the people's and the government's efforts. Above all, the engineers who gave their wisdom and toil in carrying out their missions, win the respects from us all.
Engineering professions used to include steel, oil refining and transportation systems as its main components, which were also the prime mover of Taiwan's "economic miracle." But with the change of times, in addition to bettering these basic industries, efforts must be made to introduce new elements continuously to strengthen the country's overall economic well-being. At present, the development strategies on the IT industry, biomedicine, nano-technology, water resource planning and urban renewal all have a great bearing on the nation's mid-term and long-term development.
These are also the fields that the government will strive to promote under its "National Economic Construction Blueprint" with stress given to "investment on human resource," "investment on research and development," "investment on global logistics" and "investment on the improvement of living environment." We hope that we could give an affluent life and a safe future for the people. The achievement of this task relies on you, gentlemen.
The joint meeting of the "Chinese Institute of Engineers" and other organizations specialized in engineering as well as the "25th Taiwan-Japan Colloquium on Technical Engineering" will raise its curtain this afternoon. The principal topic for this year is "The Sustainable Development Engineering, Forever Protecting Taiwan's Environment." This topic matches with the government's economic development policies. Although I cannot attend this event in person, I would still like to express my most sincere respect and gratitude to all the engineers of the country. I wish you great success.
I would also like to express my special thanks to the Japanese specialists and scholars who are present here, sharing their experiences in engineering with us. I believe this would be a very precious opportunity for both sides to engage in exchanges. Besides congratulating once again the award winners, I would like to express my admiration and affirmation for their distinguished achievements. I also hope that you would continue to devote your efforts to the betterment of society and the people. I wish you health and luck.