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President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanied by Vice President Chen Chien-Jen, met with St. Christopher and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Harris on the morning of April 16. She discussed the friendly cooperative relations between Taiwan and St. Christopher and Nevis, and detailed the results of our collaboration. She also expressed hope that in the future, we can continue to build on the firm foundation for cooperation that Taiwan and St. Christopher and Nevis already have in place, and work together to promote our peoples' common welfare and our countries' development.
In remarks, President Tsai stated that this is Prime Minister Harris' twelfth visit to Taiwan and fourth visit as Prime Minister. There were also many old friends of Taiwan among the delegates, and she once again welcomed the delegation to Taiwan and to the Presidential Office.
The president pointed out that since taking office in 2015, the Team Unity government led by Prime Minister Harris has made impressive progress across a range of fields. Tourism in St. Christopher and Nevis has flourished, and his country also leads the Caribbean region in a number of economic development indicators, a clear sign of the success of his administration.
This year, President Tsai mentioned, the diplomatic relationship between Taiwan and St. Christopher and Nevis entered its 36th year, and our friendship has continued to grow despite international instability over the years. Since Prime Minister Harris has taken office, in particular, our bilateral cooperation and exchanges in all areas have continued to grow closer, and we have accomplished a number of impressive feats along the way, she said.
In the field of public health, the president noted, Taiwan and St. Christopher and Nevis have worked together since 2017 on a Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Kidney Disease, which has provided quality treatment for those in St. Christopher and Nevis suffering from this condition. At the same time, she said, we have also been engaged in raising public awareness of this problem, which we trust will effectively reduce the rate of chronic kidney disease among the people of St. Christopher and Nevis.
In education and public safety, our talent development project and other cooperative initiatives have served to strengthen bilateral educational exchanges, and have provided the government of St. Christopher and Nevis with additional crime-fighting abilities, both testaments to Taiwan's contributions to social stability and development in the country.
The president thanked St. Christopher and Nevis and Prime Minister Harris for repeatedly speaking up for Taiwan at major international events. Their public support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations has played a key role in helping to expand our international presence, she said. She expressed hope that in the future, we can continue to build on the firm foundation for cooperation that Taiwan and St. Christopher and Nevis already have in place, working together to promote our peoples' common welfare and our countries' development.
In his remarks that followed, Prime Minister Harris first expressed his gratitude to Taiwan on behalf of his delegation. He pointed out that St. Christopher and Nevis gained independence and established diplomatic relations with Taiwan 36 years ago. Since then, many of the strides his country has made in economic development and improving quality of life have been made possible in part by the support of the government and people of Taiwan.
Prime Minister Harris also commended President Tsai on her outstanding leadership, and stated that she leads Taiwan with compassion and always puts the best interests of the people of Taiwan first. President Tsai's electoral victory is an indication of the progress of Taiwan's democracy, he said. In closing, he stated that the government of St. Christopher and Nevis will continue to speak up for and support Taiwan in the international arena, and looks forward to Taiwan's meaningful participation in international affairs in the near future.
