Taipei, June 5 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian asked executives from 18 government and private banking institutions Tuesday to help local enterprises overcome their current financial difficulties.
Chen, who just returned from a five-nation trip to Latin America, made the appeal while meeting with bank executives at the Presidential Office during a tea party.
The president called on the bankers not to tighten financial support for well-operated enterprises at a time when the economic situation at home and abroad was turning worse.
Chen said that the government has been taking a more flexible monetary policy since last December to revitalize the economy, and added that the central bank has lowered discount rates six times.
Nevertheless, he said that the enterprises have often complained about the difficulty of getting access to loans from the banks.
Chen noted that the emphasis of the government's economic policy has been placed on promoting trade, attracting investors, stimulating the economy and creating jobs. "As we are all in the same boat, I hope everyone of you will support the government's policy and help these enterprises obtain loans," he said.
Chen pointed out that his recent foreign trip was designed to promote diplomacy, and now that he has returned home, he will turn his attention to the economy.
The bank executives invited to the tea party included Bank of Taiwan President Ho Kuo-hua, Land Bank of Taiwan President Wei Chi-lin, Taiwan Cooperative Bank Chairman Lee Wen-hsiung and Chiao Tung Bank Chairman Liang Cheng-chin.
Ranking government officials present at the tea party included Premier Chang Chun-hsiung, Vice Premier Lai In-jaw, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chiou I-jen, Minister of Finance Yen Ching-chang, Central Bank of China Governor Perng Fai-nan, Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan and Council for Economic Planning and Development Chairman Chen Po-chih.