Jasmine E. Huggins, the new ambassador to the ROC from St. Kitts and Nevis, presented her credentials to President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of April 19.
The ceremony began at 10 a.m. at the Presidential Office Building. Ambassador Huggins was accompanied by Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Protocol Liu Der-li in presenting her credentials to the president. Presidential Secretary-General Liouyi Liao and Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Chin-tien Yang also were on hand to witness the proceedings.
After receiving Ambassador Huggins' credentials, President Ma remarked that September 19 is Independence Day for St. Kitts and Nevis. He noted that the ROC and St. Kitts and Nevis established relations 27 years ago in 1983. Two years ago when St. Kitts and Nevis marked its 25th anniversary of independence, which also happened to be the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, he specially dispatched Judicial Yuan President Lai In-jaw to represent the ROC government in visiting the nation to offer his congratulations. The visit was a smooth and successful one, the president said.
President Ma commented that St. Kitts and Nevis is situated in the southeastern Caribbean. During the 27 years of diplomatic ties, the two nations have maintained extremely close cooperation in the areas of agriculture, education, technology, and culture, he said. In addition, bilateral ties are quite steady, he said.
President Ma stated that St. Kits and Nevis held elections on January 25 of this year for its seventh National Assembly. The elections were carried out in a peaceful, fair, and open process, which he said demonstrates the level of democratic development in the nation. President Ma said that the ROC in 1946 formulated a constitution, which became effective in the following year. The constitution has been in force for over 60 years. Over two decades ago, martial law was lifted in the Taiwan and Penghu areas, and the president here has been elected directly by the people four times, he said. This has taken the ROC's democracy to a new level. In addition, power has changed hands among different parties on two occasions, he said, marking another important milestone for the ROC. Consequently, St. Kitts and Nevis and the ROC have consistently maintained a close partnership based on the core values of freedom and democracy, he said.
The president furthermore remarked that bilateral cooperation is not limited to agriculture and technology. In the past, he said, St. Kitts and Nevis has made every effort to support efforts by the ROC to participate in the international community. For instance, St. Kitts and Nevis last year expressed its desire to see the ROC participate in activities associated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and to become an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization, he said. In addition, representatives from St. Kitts and Nevis have spoken on behalf of the ROC in many international settings, which the president said the people of Taiwan deeply appreciate.
President Ma remarked that he has promoted a policy of flexible diplomacy since taking office. On the one hand, he has sought to improve cross-strait relations, while on the other hand he said he has aimed to halt the contentious struggle between the ROC and mainland China in the international arena, where each formerly sought to lure away the diplomatic allies of the other. Over the past two years, he said, relations across the Taiwan Strait have improved significantly. In addition, the government has strengthened the ROC's relations with the international community. Nonetheless, the ROC remains steadfast and committed to its diplomatic allies, he said. Besides continuing existing cooperation programs, projects can also be expanded or new ones initiated, he said. President Ma said the ROC deeply treasures the longstanding friendship it has with St. Kitts and Nevis.
The president stated that Ambassador Huggins has been promoted to her new position, previously serving as Charge d'Affaires to the ROC. During the three years that she served as Charge d'Affaires, she made outstanding contributions to relations between the two nations, he said. In addition, she is a highly popular figure in the foreign diplomatic corps here. Therefore, the president said that her continued service in the ROC is warmly welcomed. He also said he fully expects that bilateral relations will continue to move forward with her able assistance.