Taipei, Aug. 23 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday diverse ethnic cultures are Taiwan's most precious asset which forms Taiwan's uniqueness in the world community.
Chen made the remarks in a speech delivered at the graduation ceremony for an indigenous people research class at the Ketagelan Academy -- an institute founded by President Chen to nurture a new generation of politically adept professionals.
While pursuing globalization, Chen said, Taiwan must have its unparalleled ethnic cultural assets fully developed to enhance its competitiveness and preserve its uniqueness.
Chen said the previous Kuomintang administration's policy of forcing indigenous people to give up their ethnic cultures and languages and to Sinicize their names was wrong.
Such a biased policy has made aboriginal people become bogged down in a political, economic, social and cultural quagmire, Chen said, adding that the situation should be reviewed and corrected.
Chen said the Ketagelan aboriginal affairs research class focuses on discovering indigenous people's vigor, vitality and perseverance. Over the years, he said, the local aboriginal rights movement has offered valuable inspiration for the government to improve its policy in dealing with aboriginal affairs.
Since taking power, Chen said, his administration has made strenuous efforts to forge new partnerships with all of the island's 11 aboriginal tribes.