CPA Vice Minister Visits Costa Rica
Yen Chiu-lai, vice minister of the Cabinet-level Central Personnel Administration (CPA) is visiting Costa Rica as part of efforts to increase mutual understanding and cooperation between Taiwan and the Central American nation.

Attending a conference on international personnel systems Wednesday, Yen explained in his opening remarks the structure of the Taiwan government and its personnel system.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Costa Rica vice= president Kevin Casas and many other senior government officials.

Yen said the government in Taiwan has five branches -- the Executive Yuan, the Judicial Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, the Control Yuan and the Examination Yuan.

The CPA is one of the 37 subordinate agencies of the Executive Yuan, he continued.

The administration is in charge of employment, promotion, emolument, performance rating, service, training and further education of civil servants, Yen noted.

Applicants must pass official exams before serving as civil servants, he added.

Noting that the sound personnel system is the cornerstone to the stable operation of the government, Yen said he hopes the exchanges with Costa Rican civil servants will help enhance the diplomatic ties between the two countries.