On the morning of September 17, President Tsai Ing-wen met with Vance Amory, Senior Minister and Minister of Nevis Affairs, Labor, Social Security and Ecclesiastical Affairs of Saint Christopher and Nevis, and Mrs. Amory. The president emphasized that Taiwan and Saint Christopher and Nevis will address the challenges of climate change through bilateral cooperation programs, and also expressed hope for further strengthening cooperation and promoting the bilateral friendship.
President Tsai opened her remarks by welcoming Senior Minister Amory and Mrs. Amory back to Taiwan. Two years ago, the president recalled, they had come to Taiwan to attend the inauguration ceremonies for her and Vice President Chen Chien-jen. Their visit this time has a special significance, as it coincided with the 35th anniversary of the independence of Saint Christopher and Nevis on September 19. So on behalf of the people of Taiwan, President Tsai expressed her sincere welcome and congratulations to her visitors.
Back in 1983, the president pointed out, Taiwan was the first country to establish official diplomatic relations with Saint Christopher and Nevis. Since then, the two countries have shared common values like freedom, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and cooperated closely in the fields of agriculture, education, and public health.
President Tsai mentioned that over the past two years, Taiwan and Saint Christopher and Nevis have continuously promoted bilateral exchanges and cooperation. To promote economic and trade development, we organized an investment mission to Saint Christopher and Nevis in August last year, and encouraged Taiwanese businesses to look for development opportunities there. This year, we will also send another delegation to scout out business opportunities.
Taiwan and Saint Christopher and Nevis are also both facing the challenges of climate change, the president said. Over the past few years, climate change has impacted agriculture in Saint Christopher and Nevis, affecting national food security and the livelihoods of farmers. Beginning this year, through a bilateral cooperation program, Saint Christopher and Nevis will gradually make its agricultural system more resilient, and help farmers use disaster preparedness information to reduce losses. That program will deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Saint Christopher and Nevis, and allow Taiwan to make a greater contribution to the global response to climate change.
President Tsai emphasized that our goals are mutual cooperation and joint development. Saint Christopher and Nevis is a staunch ally of Taiwan, located in the Caribbean. So she thanked Saint Christopher and Nevis for its long-standing support for Taiwan’s international participation, and for speaking up on our behalf at major international venues like the United Nations General Assembly. The president then expressed hope for further strengthening cooperation and deepening the bilateral friendship.
In closing, President Tsai once again welcomed Senior Minister Amory and Mrs. Amory to Taiwan, and wished them a smooth and successful trip. The president also asked Senior Minister Amory to convey her best regards to Governor-General Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton and Prime Minister Timothy Sylvester Harris.
