TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) delivered a keynote speech at the 33rd Taiwan Architectural Golden Stone Award ceremony on Monday.

Cho called the awards the oldest and most iconic in the field — the “Oscars” of local architecture — and said they promote better living standards, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation, per CNA.

He said special recognition not only rewards winners but also spurs others to pursue excellence and create enduring buildings for future generations.

The government is working with the construction industry to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, Cho said, citing green procurement and green-building practices in new public works.

He also highlighted public–private cooperation on six major industrial and lifestyle clusters. One cluster will link Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Yilan; another will group Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli around the semiconductor industry.

Cho said 152 infrastructure projects will help each region meet development goals and provide resources for transportation management and water conservancy, with attention to cultural preservation and medical resources.

Another priority is urban renewal and rebuilding aging structures, he said. Renovation should reflect Taiwan’s rapidly aging society, with 19.64% of the population aged 65 and over as of July.

Cho argued that renewal improves quality of life and expands housing supply by allowing greater floor area for new projects, adding that equitable rules can encourage public participation and transform cityscapes.

He said President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) immediate goals include expanding the domestic economy and urged the legislature to pass the central government’s general budget. Cho also called for deeper government–industry cooperation to benefit the public.