President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of November 27 with St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenny D. Anthony. In addition to welcoming Prime Minister Anthony, who was leading a delegation to the ROC for the first time, to Taiwan, the president also called for continued strengthening of the alliance between the two countries.
In remarks, President Ma stated that this is the second time that Prime Minister Anthony has served as the prime minister of St. Lucia. Prime Minister Anthony's leadership, the president said, has been instrumental in enabling rapid development and growth in various industries in St. Lucia, including the tourism industry, which also benefits from the island nation's beautiful natural scenery.
President Ma said he was honored to have led an ROC delegation to St. Lucia in August of this year. While his stay in St. Lucia was short, he said, he sensed the warmth, kindheartedness, optimism, and diligent spirit of the nation's people. In particular, he mentioned, when delivering an address to the nation's parliament, members from both the ruling and opposition parties tapped their hands against their desks in an expression of support, which made a deep impression on him. The president commented that Prime Minister Anthony is now, just three months after his visit to St. Lucia, leading a delegation to Taiwan, and this offers him an opportunity to serve as host this time. President Ma said he hopes that this visit will significantly enhance the bilateral relationship.
As for the cooperation projects between the two countries, President Ma noted, an agricultural technology mission from the ROC has helped St. Lucia in fish and shrimp breeding, effectively boosting incomes in the aquaculture industry there. In addition, the ROC also provides electronic scales to help people in St. Lucia better manage their health, he said. These are just some of the projects that point to the close interaction between the two countries in the fields of infrastructure, medicine, education, and culture, the president remarked.
President Ma also thanked St. Lucia for speaking on behalf of Taiwan over the past six years in support of Taiwan's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the World Health Assembly, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and other important international organizations. He noted that St. Lucia Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation Alva Baptiste delivered an address during the 68th General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in which he welcomed the move by the ICAO to allow Taiwan to participate in the organization's activities. In addition, President Ma said, Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation Permanent Secretary Hubert Emmanuel sent a letter to the executive secretary of the UNFCCC expressing the support of the St. Lucian government for observer status for the ROC in the UNFCCC. This gesture, the president commented, has enabled the people of Taiwan to sense the support and friendship of the government of St. Lucia towards the ROC.