Taichung, Taiwan, April 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that post-earthquake reconstruction programs should give top priority to the repair or rebuilding of traffic systems.
Chen made the remarks while making an inspection tour of mountainous regions of central Taiwan that bore the brunt of a devastating earthquake that rattled the island on Sept. 21, 1999.
Accompanied by several central and local government officials, Chen visited Lishan Elementary School to show his concern about the school's operation after its campus was partially damaged in the earthquake. Chen was all smiles when he learned that all the damaged classrooms have been repaired. He presented more than 300 children's books to the school, many of which are biographies of noted religious leaders, politicians and artists.