Taipei, April 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian called for international support Sunday for Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO), claiming that it will be a valuable WHO member.
Addressing a local chapter meeting of the Rotary International, President Chen said that to shut Taiwan out from the WHO is an international injustice for the 23 million people of the island and makes a loophole in preventing the spread of epidemics in the world.
Referring to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) , Chen said that though not being a WHO member, Taiwan has effectively taken the potentially deadly disease under control and is willing to share its experience in combating the atypical pneumonia with other countries.
President Chen Shui-bian said that Taiwan's economic performance can be better for this year and urged the general public to support police efforts in combating crime.
President Chen said that Taiwan's economy has been recovering since last year when it registered a growth of 3.54 percent after suffering a setback caused by the sluggish world economy over the past years.
He urged his countrymen to be confident in the nation's economic development, noting that Taiwan had recorded annual economic growth rates at 6 percent to 7 percent and that there is room for improvement.
Taiwan's economic performance for last year was relatively better in comparison with other countries. The United States enjoyed a growth of 2.4 percent; Hong Kong, 2.3 percent; Singapore, 2.2 percent; the United Kingdom, 1.7 percent; France, 1.2 percent; Italy, 0.4 percent; Japan, 0.3 percent; and Germany, 0.2 percent.
The government has launched a campaign of revitalizing economy and of zero growth of criminal cases for improving the nation's investment environment, thus to further stimulate the nation's economic development.
He urged the general public to give the police their best support in combating crimes for safeguarding a better social order and luring more foreign investments.