President Ma Ying-jeou and DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen both visited Kaohsiung last weekend, announcing their respective plans for the future development of the city, trying to win more local support in the election next year.

KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou went to Kaohsiung on Saturday to attend the 65th anniversary celebration of National Kaohsiung Marine University.

He said during a speech that his administration would establish the Marine Affairs Commission next year.

The president also promised to build a 17-meter long, 6,000-ton ship for the school.

After the speech, he had a face-to-face meeting with students and it was a lively discussion.

DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen toured around the Kaohsiung Love Pier in the company of the city's mayor Chen Chu.

Tsai said she hopes to transform the Kaohsiung harbor if she's elected in 2012.

She spoke highly of the city's effort to transform itself and the harbor and promised that if the DPP returns to power next year, the central and the local govenment would collaborate to make the transformation more efficient.

The candidates are writing their campaign checks, showing their ambitions to win the major election next year.