Ma Completes Registration for KMT Presidential Nomination

Ma Completes Registration for KMT Presidential Nomination

Source: KMT Culture and Communication Committee

April 25, 2011

Accompanied by over 20 young students, President Ma Ying-jeou, who doubles as KMT Chairman, completed his registration as candidate for the KMT Presidential nomination on April 23. Chairman Ma stated that he was seeking re-election with humility. He said that after serving as President for nearly three years, most of his campaign planks had been implemented and he had led the country to move toward the direction of peace, prosperity, and security, but there were still many things that needed to be done. Therefore, he expressed the hope that the people of the whole nation would give him four more years to make the current policies and direction move further forward.

Chairman Ma stated that when he assumed office, Taiwan had been gravely hit by the global tsunami and economic recession, but his administration had taken several policies with a calm and composed attitude to walk out of the shadow, adding that many policies, such as the four-year investment of NT$ 500 billion in expanded domestic measures, had gradually led the economy back on track.

With regard to developments in cross-Strait relations, Chairman Ma stated he had vigorously improved cross-Strait relations and adopted steady steps to institutionalize cross-Strait trade and economic relations, allowing Taiwan to conduct exchanges with Mainland China in a peaceful and prosperous environment. He mentioned that his administration also focused on expanding foreign relations while cross-Strait relations were improved. He said that although the Republic of China (ROC) had withdrawn from the United Nations 38 years ago, we participated in the World Health Assembly for the first time two years ago under the designation of Chinese Taipei. He stated that the ROC had also participated in the World Trade Organization for 6 years, and the WTO adopted our accession to the Agreement on Government Procurement last year, adding that the efforts in the past had now borne fruit.

In foreign relations, Chairman Ma said that 53 countries had visa-waiver programs for the ROC passport holders when he assumed the Presidency in 2008, but as of March this year, 133 countries offered visa-free treatment, with the number of countries increasing by 60. Most countries that the people of Taiwan frequently traveled to were offering either visa-waiver programs or landing visas, showing that the ROC was well-respected in other countries. He said that he was very touched by this result, and he would definitely not overlook the core values such as ROC sovereignty and the people’s dignity in the future.

On the issue of the conflict between the environment and economic development, Chairman Ma said that for any economic development cases the government should pay attention to the question whether or not it would affect the environment, and the government would seek a dynamic equilibrium between the economy and environment.

Chairman Ma stressed that he had invited young students to witness the registration today because he hoped to work together with the young people for the future, and the support he received from these students, who would cast their ballots next year for the first time, made him more confident in seeking re-election. He said that he registered for the KMT Presidential nomination in the hope that we all would jointly do our utmost to make Taiwan a better place.

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