Taiwan leader hails new era

Mr Chen said there would be no declaration of independence

Excerpts from Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration speech on 20 May.

Leaders of our friendly nations, honoured guests and compatriots from Taiwan and abroad.

This is a glorious moment; it is also a moment of dignity and hope...

He took his oath before the portrait of Sun Yat-sen

We are here today, not just to celebrate an inauguration, but to witness the hard-won democratic values, and to witness the beginning of a new era.

On the eve of the 21st Century, the people of Taiwan have completed an historic alternation of political parties in power.

This is not only the first of its kind in the history of the Republic of China, but also an epochal landmark for Chinese communities around the world.

Taiwan has not only set a new model for the Asian experience of democracy, but has also added a moving example to the third wave of democracy the world over...

The outcome of Taiwan's Year 2000 presidential election is not the victory of an individual or a political party.

It is a victory of the people, a victory for democracy, because we have, while at the focus of global attention, transcended fear, threats and oppression and bravely risen to our feet together...

President for all the people

I have always taken pride in being a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, but from the moment I take my oath and assume the president's post, I will put all my efforts into fulfilling my role as a "president for all people".

As in the formation of the new government, we employ people according to their talents and do not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender or party affiliation. We will also place the welfare of the populace as our primary goal in future...

Cleaning up 'money politics'

The topmost initiatives of my promise to "rule by the clean and upright" are to eliminate "black gold" - the involvement of organised crime in politics - and to eradicate vote-buying.

For a long time, the Taiwanese people have been deeply repelled by money politics and the interference of organised crime.

A grassroots vote-buying culture has also robbed the people of their right to elect the wise and the able.

These have tainted the development of Taiwan's democracy.

Today, I am willing to promise hereby that the new government will eliminate vote-buying and crack down on "black gold" politics, so that Taiwan can rise above such downward sinking forces. We must give the people a clean political environment...

Safeguarding human rights

We are also willing to promise a more active contribution in safeguarding international human rights.

The Republic of China cannot and will not remain outside global human rights trends.

We will abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

We will bring the Republic of China back into the international human rights system.

The new government will request the Legislative Yuan to pass and ratify the International Bill of Rights as a domestic law of Taiwan, so that it will formally become the "Taiwan Bill of Rights".

We hope to set up an independent national human rights commission in Taiwan, thereby realising an action long advocated by the United Nations...

Relations with China

China put pressure on Taiwan ahead of the inauguration

Over the past one hundred plus years, China has suffered imperialist aggression, which left indelible wounds in her history.

Taiwan's destiny has been even more arduous, tormented by brute force and the rule of colonialist regimes.

These similar historical experiences should bring mutual understanding between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, setting a solid foundation for pursuing freedom, democracy and human rights together.

However, due to long periods of separation, the two sides have developed vastly different political systems and lifestyles, obstructing empathy and friendship between the people on the two sides, and even creating a wall of divisiveness and confrontation.

Today, as the Cold War has ended, it is time for the two sides to cast aside the hostilities left from the old era. We do not need to wait further because now is a new opportunity for the two sides to create an era of reconciliation together.

The people across the Taiwan Strait share the same ancestral, cultural, and historical background.

While upholding the principles of democracy and parity, building upon the existing foundations, and constructing conditions for co-operation through goodwill, we believe that the leaders on both sides possess enough wisdom and creativity to jointly deal with the question of a future "one China".

No declaration of independence

I fully understand that as the popularly elected 10th-term President of Taiwan, I must abide by the Constitution, maintain the sovereignty, dignity and security of our country, and ensure the well-being of all citizens.

Therefore, as long as the CCP regime has no intention to use military force against Taiwan, I pledge that during my term in office, I will not declare independence, I will not change the national title, I will not push forth the inclusion of the so-called "state-to-state" description in the Constitution, and I will not promote a referendum to change the status quo in regards to the question of independence or unification...

Co-operation with respect

Under the leadership of Mr Deng Xiaoping and Mr Jiang Zemin, the mainland has created a miracle of economic openness. In Taiwan, over a half century, not only have we created a miracle economy, we have also created the political marvel of democracy.

On such a basis, as long as the governments and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can interact more, following the principles of "goodwill reconciliation, active co-operation and permanent peace," while at the same time respecting the free choice of the people and excluding unnecessary obstacles, both sides of the Strait can make great contributions to the prosperity and stability of the Asia Pacific Region...

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.