Vice President Wu Den-yih spent a third day in Belize on August 20 as part of his trip to Central American allies dubbed Project Sustained Friendship. In the morning, the vice president paid a visit to the Office of the Governor-General to meet with Governor-General Sir Colville Young. In a guest book, Vice President Wu wrote a message expressing his wishes for a lasting alliance and shared effort for prosperity.
When meeting with Governor-General Young, Vice President Wu stated that poverty is eradicated not through financial assistance, but rather by knowledge. Consequently, the ROC in recent years has continued to promote interaction and the transfer of knowledge between the two countries in the areas of agriculture and fisheries. The vice president added that the ROC has also provided scholarships to students from Belize to come to Taiwan to engage in advanced studies, thereby helping to assist in the national development of Belize.
Shortly after his meeting with the governor-general, Vice President Wu met with Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow. During those discussions, the vice president stated that the government and people of the ROC will always remember the actions of Belize over the years in speaking on behalf of the ROC and advocating its participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international organizations and activities. Vice President Wu and Prime Minister Barrow also exchanged opinions on a broad range of issues associated with cooperation between the two countries in vocational training, prevention of crime, farming and fisheries, information and communications technology, and scholarships. The two expressed their hopes that bilateral cooperation will cover even more areas in the future.
At noon, Governor-General Young hosted a luncheon for the delegation from the ROC. During the meal, Vice President Wu expressed his deepest appreciation and also stressed that the ROC will continue to promote interaction and cooperation between the two countries.
In the afternoon, Vice President Wu visited the Belize Central Farm to see the results of over two decades of technical cooperation between the two nations. He also visited a food processing demonstration workshop for local women, thus gaining a better understanding of the progress made in bilateral aquaculture and food processing cooperation projects, and plans for the future in these areas.
Vice President Wu received briefings on the state of bilateral cooperation projects from two members of the Technical Mission of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) in Belize (mission leader Wang Tseng-hui (王增惠) and project manager Tsai Nian-tsy (蔡念慈). The vice president then remarked that the mission from the ROC has carefully considered local conditions and needs, designing and carrying out projects involving the cultivation of rice, raising of tilapia, the training of women, and providing lunches for schoolchildren, all of which have been huge successes.
The vice president noted that Belize has lush open plains and abundant marine resources, providing it with unlimited potential for development. As a result, the technical mission will continue to promote cooperation that meets the needs of Belize, and will then hand over successful projects to local authorities. The focus of these initiatives will be on transferring expertise, assisting locals, and sparking development, which will enable the successful and seamless promotion of cooperation, so that Belize can share in the experience of Taiwan's progress in agriculture, fisheries, and technology.
Vice President Wu also mentioned that the ROC has long promoted technical education and vocational training, and the results have been recognized throughout the world. The government will continue to assist its friends and allies, enabling Taiwan to become a promoter of technical cooperation, a provider of humanitarian aid, and a standard-bearer of Chinese culture, he added.
In the evening, the vice president attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Barrow, during which he again praised Belize for its beautiful scenery, hardworking people, enthusiasm, and optimistic outlook. He expressed his confidence that Belize will enjoy continued prosperity and progress in the future. During the dinner, Vice President Wu and Prime Minister Barrow also raised their glasses in celebration and in hopes for a sustained alliance and lasting friendship between the two countries.