BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 4TH 2013 (CUOPM) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) His Excellency David Yung-la-Lin, is hailing the 30-year relationship between St. Kitts and Nevis and his Asian nation.
“Over the past 30 years, we have witnessed tremendous progress in our bilateral relations especially with all the cooperation projects which have been undertaken by the two Governments and which have already been very successful in promoting the ties of friendship and co-operation between the two countries,” said Mr. Lin at a dinner in his honour hosted by the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I also want to take this opportunity to pay a very high tribute to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Douglas for his remarkable and dynamic leadership that has further promoted the ties of friendship and co-operation between the two countries.
I remember, he has been to Taiwan eight times and we look forward to his next visit to Taiwan. So I know he has been a key person in our bilateral relations, together with all members of his Cabinet,” said the Taiwan Foreign Minister.
Expressing gratitude to Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis, Foreign Minister Lin praised His Excellency Miguel Tsao and Mrs. Tsao and members of the Taiwan Embassy for supporting the new ideas and new projects for St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I think this is a very important development in our bilateral relations because we have sent the technical mission sponsored by the Taiwan Development Fund, but we would like to see some innovation ideas that would make some of these cooperation projects even more successful,” the Taiwan Foreign Minister said as he mentioned the Agro- Tourism Demonstration Farm, the Agro-Processing Unit and the Solar Energy Plant as some of the new cooperation initiatives.
“Some things that we are trying to accomplish this year are the first and the second phase of our lighting programme here. So wherever we go we can see some of the Solar and LED lighting. That is also a very important linkage between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and St. Kitts and Nevis,” said the visiting Foreign Minister.
“We would like to see more progress along this direction, so that we can try to strengthen our relations on a beneficial basis,” said Mr. Lin.
He again praised Prime Minister Douglas for his support and his friendship towards Taiwan, especially in their efforts to participate in a more meaningful way in the International Community.
“For instance over the years, we have tried to promote our UN Campaign this year by participating in the World Health Assembly and also to other United Nations Specialised Agencies,” he said.
The Taiwan Foreign Minister is no stranger to the Caribbean having served in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines between 1997 and 2001.
“I travelled far and wide in the region. I also had the honour of meeting with the Right Honourable Prime Minister Douglas in St. Kitts and also in Grenada, in St. Vincent and other countries. So I am very happy about this kind of long association and attachment over the past decade. I am back to the region and I am very happy that I can do more for the region and also to further strengthen the ties of friendship and co-operation between the Republic of China on Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis,” he concluded as he raised a toast to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Douglas and also to all Honourable Ministers for the friendship between the two countries and also for the continuous prosperity of St. Kitts and Nevis.