President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of July 22 at the Presidential Office met with Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China, welcomed and expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Gonsalves for leading a delegation to Taiwan.
President Ma said he appreciated that St. Vincent and the Grenadines Governor-General Sir Frederick Ballantyne personally led a delegation to Taiwan to attend his inauguration on May 20. President Ma added that the ROC and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have maintained diplomatic relations for 27 years and high-ranking officials from each country make frequent visits to the other. He said the ROC has shared its development experience with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, noting that a number of projects have been carried out in the Caribbean nation that have benefited the nation’s economy and the livelihood of the people. He specifically pointed out that projects related to urban development, the construction of an airport, and the establishment of a national library have progressed quite smoothly. President Ma said he hopes existing projects will continue to be carried out, paving the way for even faster development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
President Ma said that one of Prime Minister Gonsalves’ daughters is about to begin studying law at the University of the West Indies. The president mentioned that he himself studied law and that he would like to extend a warm welcome to the prime minister’s daughter in entering this meaningful field. In addition, Prime Minister Gonsalves’ youngest daughter placed among the top in a national academic competition, scoring perfect in English curriculum. The president said this demonstrates that Prime Minister Gonsalves’ efforts in providing education for his family have been extremely successful.
President Ma also expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by St. Vincent and the Grenadines in assisting the ROC in seeking membership in the United Nations and participating in other international organizations. The president said St. Vincent and the Grenadines has given a high appraisal to the quality of the assistance projects carried out by the ROC in the Caribbean nation. He said he understands that the assistance provided by the ROC is on par with that of Europe. As a result, he hopes the two nations in the future will continue to cooperate and engage in a variety of projects, enabling relations and the diplomatic alliance between the two countries to become even stronger. President Ma said he is pleased to see that students from St. Vincent and the Grenadines come to study in Taiwan each year. He said that this offers an opportunity for younger people of the two nations to have greater interaction and that it is an excellent direction for cooperation to take.
Prime Minister Gonsalves was accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou to meet with President Ma. Also in attendance was National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi.