Chiayi, Taiwan, March 14 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu jointly made an inspection tour of Alishan mountain resort in southern Taiwan Friday as part of their efforts to boost tourism in the region after a recent train crash.
Chen and Lu arrived by train at the Shuisheliao Bat Ecology Exhibit Hall Station on the historic Alishan railway at 10: 30 a.m. They were warmly welcomed by a group of schoolchildren.
Chen said he is hopeful that all local citizens will learn a lesson from the Alishan train crash March 1 in which 17 people were killed and 173 others injured.
Chen told journalists accompanied him on the trip that technically he has not yet been named by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as its candidate for the presidential race, and, therefore, is not in a position to name his running mate.