Although it has yet to be confirmed, reports have said that Christina Liu, a former legislator with a strong background in economics, will take over as head of the Council of Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), the nation's top economic planning agency, as part of a minor Cabinet reshuffle. The reshuffle came after the resignation of Vice Premier Eric Liluan Chu to run in the year-end municipality election in Xinbei City, the provisional name of Taipei County after it is upgraded later this year. If Liu becomes the CEPD head, she will follow in the footsteps of her mother, Shirley Kuo. Kuo also served as finance minister and vice governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of China. The following are excerpts from local media coverage of the issue: United Evening News: Liu said that it may be too early to talk about what the CEPD would do under her leadership, but the goal will be to implement the Ma administration's vision of achieving a 'Golden Decade' of sustained development. Reports have said that prior to the debate between President Ma Ying-jeou and opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen in late April, Liu, as a member of Ma's financial and economic advisory team, provided valuable information to the president. The vision of the nation's 'Golden Decade' in the wake of a warmer cross-strait relations and closer cross-strait economic cooperation broached by Ma in the debate was also reportedly suggested by Liu. This advice apparently helped her secure the post of CEPD head. Liu dismissed such reports, saying that the ideas came from President Ma's 14-member financial and economic advisory team and not just her. The team has long discussed matters related to Taiwan's long-term economic development, hurdles it should overcome, and the country's niches, according to Liu. She said the Ma administration has advocated greater opening and liberalization, concepts she identified with. Liu stressed that the liberalization she favors will be an 'orderly' and 'gradual' opening out of consideration for Taiwan's economic fundamentals and cannot repeat the same mistakes of countries in the 1997 and 1998 Asian financial crisis. On whether Taiwan should also follow a 'gradual opening' while negotiating a trade pact with China, Liu said that Taiwan 'definitely should have complementary measures for such an opening.' China Times: The second wave of the Cabinet reshuffle will soon be unveiled. Liu will become CEPD chairwoman, but the process of selecting a finance minister has not been smooth. Although Finance Minister Lee Sush-der is highly trusted by the president, he has been panned for several gaffes while rushing to defend Ma's policies, so consideration is being given to replacing him. It is known that former Finance Minister Ho Chih-chin has been approached, but the possibility of Lee's staying on cannot be ruled out. Ho reportedly said he has returned to academia and that 'there are many ways to contribute to the nation, ' in an indirect rejection of the offer. Premier Wu Den-yih on Friday branded all media reports on the Cabinet reshuffle as speculation and said all personnel changes have to be carefully considered and cannot be rashly announced. 