Kenting, southern tip of Taiwan, Feb. 3 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian Sunday vowed to build Taiwan into a tourist "green silicon island."
The president made the promise while presiding over the world's first 2002 Kenting Wind Bell Festival held at the Kenting Primary School in Pingtung County.
President Chen stressed that a joyful and warm tourist "green silicon island" is a lofty goal for the government.
President Chen, accompanied by Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Che-nan, Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san and Pingtung County Magistrate Su Chia-chuan, arrived at the Kenting Primary School at 10:30 am and crowds extended a warm welcome to the president.
Chen looked at all the wind bells from foreign countries displayed at the exhibition hall and he also swung one of the wind bells displayed at the exhibition to pray for peace and prosperity for the people.
He pointed out that the Kenting peninsula, which is surrounded by seas, is famous for its picturesque landscape and mountainous winds and migratory birds.
The president hoped that the festival, the first of the 12 serial of festivals to be held in Taiwan, will upgrade Taiwan's image in the international community.
More than 200 wind bells from Australia, Chile, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Europe, the United States and host Republic of China are being displayed at a local park through Feb. 17.
The festival was jointly sponsored by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Bureau of the Cultural Affairs of the Pingtung County Government.