President Lee Teng-hui this morning says that the Republic of China, which has become a member of the free world after successfully holding the first popular presidential election in Chinese history in March this year, is committed to playing an increasingly active and important role in Asian and global affairs.
The ROC on Taiwan serves as an important bridge leading the United States into the entire Asian region, and this country greatly welcomes investments by the high-technology sectors in the U.S. and Europe to support Taiwan's ongoing Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center plan, the President adds.
President Lee makes the remarks while meeting with members of the U.S. delegation to the 20th Joint Conference of the ROC-USA and USA-ROC Economic Councils which opens this afternoon in Taipei.
The President notes that, in order to improve Taiwan's business climate, relevant government agencies are revising investment regulations while tariff- and tax-related statutes will also be reviewed so as to sharpen this nation's competitive edge.
Meanwhile, President Lee tells his American guests that the upcoming National Development Conference, scheduled for December 23-28, is designed to be a forum for reaching consensus on the ROC's future development among leaders of all walks of life, not for contentious debates among political parties. In that conference, he adds, collective wisdom of and concerted efforts by all participants will be needed to forge a fresh start for this country in her march toward the 21 century.
The U.S. delegation hedaded by Mr. Daniel M. Tellep, co-chairman of the USA-ROC Economic Council, is accompanied by his ROC counterpart Mr. Jeffrey L. S. Koo to the Office of the President for the meeting. Dr. Ding Mou-shih, Secretary-General of the ROC National Security Council and Mr. Stephen S.F. Chen, Deputy Secreatry-General of the Office of the President, are also present.