Taipei, May 14, 2008 (CENS)--Mao Chi-kuo, minister-designate of transportation and communications, pledged yesterday (May 13) to push as his priority task the visit of mainland Chinese tourists to Taiwan and the inauguration of direct cross-Taiwan Strait flights on weekend following swearing into office.

In an interview with local press, Mao noted that the two measures can help vitalize Taiwan`s economy, admitting, though, they are not elixir to Taiwan`s economic problems.

The challenge to the local tourist industry, said Mao, is how to maintain the interest in Taiwan among Chinese tourists, following the initial craze, for which Taiwan has to upgrade its overall environment, so that even a local small town can have its sightseeing features, just like the situation in Europe.

Another priority task of the ministry under his leadership is to push the construction of the Taoyuan aviation city, a major component of the platform of President-elect Ma Ying-jeou. Mao, though, urged legislators to suspend the enactment of the special statute for the project, proposed by KMT legislators, so that the ministry can have sufficient time to study and perfect its contents.

Mao also plans to spend half a year planning the establishment of smart transportation system on the island, which can create a synergy effect among various transportation systems and facilitate overall transportation management.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communication will continue to push BOT (build-operate-transfer) practice for major transportation projects, which are cable to generating certain level of returns, said Mao. The ministry will try to carry out several exemplary BOT cases, to be followed by public functionaries in executing such cases in the future, according to Mao.
(by Philip Liu)