Premier Lai Ching-te was sworn in Sept. 8 at the Office of the President in Taipei City, pledging to advance and deepen reforms in key areas such as Taiwan’s pension plans, labor laws and the economy.
“I will do my best to meet the expectations of the people,” Lai said following the ceremony attended by President Tsai Ing-wen. Also taking the oath of office was the 44-member Cabinet containing five new faces: Vice Premier Shih Jun-ji, National Development Council Minister Chen Mei-ling, Economic Affairs Minister Shen Jong-chin, Financial Supervisory Commission Minister Koo Li-hsiung and Executive Yuan Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai.
According to Lai, the Cabinet is to focus on boosting the local economy for the benefit of the people. “At the same time, it will continue promoting the process of reform and transformation so Taiwan can make even greater strides going forward,” he said.
Top priorities for the Cabinet include facilitating industrial transformation, meeting energy challenges and promoting judicial, pension and taxation reforms, as well as tackling social issues of public concern.
Lai’s appointment follows the resignation Sept. 3 of Lin Chuan, who said the time was ripe to hand over the reins as he had realized the first stage of the government’s policymaking agenda.
The new premier thanked Lin for successfully implementing Tsai’s policy platform and charting a clear course for national development. “Every milestone accomplished by Lin is appreciated by the people of Taiwan,” he said.
Lai stepped down Sept. 7 as mayor of Tainan City in southern Taiwan after taking office in December 2010. He was a national legislator for 11 years and the former doctor in charge of the Nephrology Division at National Cheng Kung University Hospital. (SFC-E)