President Tsai accepts credentials from new Saint Lucia Ambassador Edwin Laurent
On the morning of June 19, President Tsai Ing-wen accepted the credentials of new Saint Lucia Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Edwin Laurent at the Presidential Office. The president welcomed Ambassador Laurent to his new post in Taiwan, and expressed hope for the continued strengthening of friendly diplomatic ties.
After accepting his credentials, President Tsai offered Ambassador Laurent a sincere welcome on behalf of the Taiwanese people as he takes up his new post. She further noted that Ambassador Laurent is a distinguished Saint Lucia diplomat with both economics and public finance expertise, combining important domestic positions along with ample experience in overseas postings. She noted that his assignment as ambassador shows how important Taiwan is to Saint Lucia, as well as a mark of friendship.
Commenting on the bilateral relationship, President Tsai pointed out that over the last two years Taiwan and Saint Lucia have continued to cooperate closely and achieve good results on basic infrastructure, agriculture, medicine, and information and communications technology projects. She said that given Ambassador Laurent's experience and expertise, the two countries should be able to have even more exchanges at all levels, while strengthening and consolidating bilateral relations.
The president expressed special thanks to Ambassador Laurent for Saint Lucia's continued, long-term support for Taiwan's international participation. She said that last year, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet spoke out on Taiwan's behalf in both the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of Parties. She noted also that at this year's World Health Assembly (WHA), Saint Lucia had specially issued a letter to the secretary-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) to propose that Taiwan be permitted to participate, and also took a principled stand in support of Taiwan at the WHA.
President Tsai further noted that in November of last year Prime Minister Chastanet, for the second time in his capacity as prime minister, led a delegation to Taiwan to continue strengthening the bilateral relationship. She thanked Saint Lucia for its firm friendship and for supporting Taiwan through concrete action. In addition to inviting Ambassador Laurent to convey Taiwan's thanks to Prime Minister Chastanet, the president also expressed hope that Saint Lucia will continue to do everything it can to support Taiwan.
In closing, the president once again welcomed Ambassador Laurent to his new post in Taiwan, saying that "in the future, Taiwan will work with all sectors in Saint Lucia to continue to strengthen friendly diplomatic ties."