Premier Cho sets out gov't agenda as Lai nears 1 year in office

Taipei, May 16 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet's updated policy agenda, while recapping the government's achievements ahead of the first anniversary of Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) taking office on May 20.

Speaking to reporters in the Executive Yuan's Assembly Hall, Cho said his government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth.

"I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the Legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments," Cho said, calling the moves "necessary" in order to protect constitutional governance and the public interest.

Looking ahead, he continued, the Cabinet will work toward achieving a "1+7" plan, with the one referring to the establishment of the new Ministry of Sports on Sept. 9.

The other seven areas of focus include balancing Taiwan's six major industrial and living areas, establishing an Asia Asset Management Center, and implementing the NT$1 trillion (US$33.19 billion) national investment plan between 2025 and 2028, as well as implementing President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) 17 national security measures.

The Cabinet will also continue promoting semiconductor, UAV and smart robot development, implement an updated long-term care program, introduce public housing reforms for young couples with children and maintain a stable power supply while phasing out coal-fired power generation by 2032, Cho said.

Comparing the Cabinet to a "pilot" navigating the country into port, Cho said his team's goal over the coming period was to achieve "stable progress."

The government also hopes to work with the opposition to improve Taiwanese society and make the country stronger, he said.