Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) ROC President Chen Shui-bian urged his fellow countrymen Monday in his Chinese Lunar New Year speech to be ready for all challenges that lie ahead.
In his message released on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Chen recalled that Taiwan suffered many hardships over the past year, including typhoons that hit the island one after the other and resulted in destructive flooding.
In addition, the terrorist attacks on the United States last Sept. 11 brought down global economic growth and Taiwan has also felt the economic pinch.
However, Taiwan has stood tall in the face of these difficulties because of the wisdom and perseverance on the part of both the people and the government. "We have passed the challenges," the president said.
Chen added, however, that greater challenges and difficulties are waiting for the nation now that Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Taiwan was granted full member status on Jan. 1 this year.
WTO membership for Taiwan will mean all-out global competition, which will not only affect trade and economics, but also the fields of science, culture, art and thought, he said. "We must, in the shortest possible time, make a thorough change, turning ourselves into a 'global individual with a global vision,'" Chen said. "If we do not change now, we will not be able to find our place in the future global landscape," the president warned.
Chen encouraged the new Cabinet, which was sworn in Feb. 1, to complete cross-the-board reforms as soon as possible to further buttress Taiwan's foundation. "Only by doing this can Taiwan take advantage of the opportunity at the very moment that the global economy begins to rebound. In this way we will be confidently telling the world community: We are ready, we are coming."
The president also wished his fellow countrymen a prosperous and peaceful Year of the Horse.