On November 21, President Chen Shui-bian met with Prime Minister Denzil Douglas of Saint Kitts and Nevis and other members of his visiting group, expressing wholehearted welcome to the delegation.
President Chen indicated that this is Prime Minister Douglas' sixth visit of Taiwan, which stands for Saint Kitts and Nevis' staunch support and friendship for Taiwan. President Chen said that he felt honored to be able to lead a delegation to St. Kitts and Nevis in September 2005, making him the first ROC president to visit the nation since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1983.
President Chen recalled vividly his trip to St. Kitts and Nevis last year, during which he addressed the opening ceremony of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show and signed a joint communiqué with Prime Minister Douglas at the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a citadel of peace in the Caribbean Sea.
President Chen also took the opportunity to thank Prime Minister Douglas for his country's staunch support for Taiwan to participate in international organizations and events, including the United Nations and the World Health Assembly.
Regarding the collaborations between the two countries, President Chen indicated that the Warner Park Cricket Stadium, completed and inaugurated on May 15, 2006, has won international acclaim after being used for holding several international games. As St. Kitts and Nevis is to hold the Cricket World Cup in March 2007, President Chen noted that the completion of its international airport expansion by the end of this year is important for hosting this event, which will surely help boost the Caribbean country's international fame and tourism. President Chen said that Taiwan is honored to be able of contributing to this international sports event and wished it great success.