BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 15TH 2013 (CUOPM) – A red carpet welcome at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, the signing of a treaty, a State Luncheon, State Banquet and the signing of a Joint Communiqué are the hallmarks of a two-day State Visit to St. Kitts and Nevis by President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Ma Ying-jeou.
President Ma, Taiwan’s 12th and 13th term President and Chairman of the ruling Kuomintang Party, arrives here on Sunday 18th August and will be welcomed at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport by Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas before inspecting a Guard of Honour drawn up by members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force on the tarmac.
Following welcome remarks by Prime Minister Douglas and a response by President Ma, Dr. Douglas will introduce members of the Federal Cabinet, the Speaker and members of the National Assembly, the Premier of Nevis and members of the Nevis Island Administration and Senior Government officials.
President Ma will be guest of honour at a State Luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Douglas at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort during which the Foreign Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett and his Taiwan counterpart, His Excellency David Y. L. Lin, will formally sign a treaty. President Ma and Prime Minister Douglas are to give brief remarks.
Mid-afternoon the President of Taiwan and members of his delegation will visit the Taiwan-funded Agro-Tourism Demonstration Farm at Sir Gilles. He will be welcomed by Prime Minister Douglas, Minister of Tourism, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt, Minister of Education, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty and Chairman of the Project Management Committee, Mr. Joseph Edmeade.
Following a briefing by Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador, His Excellency Miguel Le-Jey Tsao, brief remarks will be said by President Ma, Prime Minister Douglas and Minister Skerritt before a tour and inspection of the ongoing project and fruit farm and agro-processing products.
President Ma will also visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, where he will be welcomed by Minister of Culture, the Hon. Marcella Liburd, Permanent Secretary, Ms. Sharon Rattan and General Manager of the fortress, Mr. Gill before touring the UNESCO-Heritage site.
Sunday night, the Republic of China President will pay a courtesy call on Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence, prior to been hosted by Sir Edmund and Lady Lawrence at a State Banquet. Sir Edmund and President Ma will give brief remarks.
Youth athletes get a chance to meet President Ma early Monday morning 19th August at the Jubilee Stadium.
After a visit to the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), President Ma will visit the Taiwan-funded Solar Farm under construction at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport where he will be greeted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, the Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin and Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt.
President Ma, a former Justice Minister and Mayor of Taipei, will inspect work on the facility following a briefing by a representative of Speedtech Energy Company and remarks by himself and Ministers Martin and Skerritt.
Afterwards, President Ma pays a courtesy call on Prime Minister Douglas at his Government Headquarters Office, before the signing of a Joint Communiqué in the National Assembly Chambers, where remarks will be made by the two leaders after the exchange of documents.
President Ma and his delegation leave the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport after taking the salute from an honour guard.