Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Tsai Ing-wen, currently traveling overseas on her Journey of Freedom, Democracy, and Sustainability, hosted a dinner banquet in St. Lucia for local political figures and Taiwan embassy personnel and their families on the evening of July 18 local time (morning of July 19 Taipei time). She thanked our unsung diplomats and technical mission personnel for their hard work on the frontlines of diplomacy. The president also stated that Taiwan government will continue to work with St. Lucia to achieve their developmental goals, and that our bilateral friendship will go from strength to strength, and set the standard for global sustainable cooperation.

Following is a transcript of the president's remarks:

As our time in St. Lucia comes to an end, I want to thank you all for the warmth and hospitality you have shown myself and my delegation. We truly received a Caribbean welcome here.

No matter where I visit, I make sure to set aside time to meet with our diplomats and technical mission personnel. Day to day, these heroes work on our diplomatic allies and our relationship with our friends. So I want to ask them to stand up. Would you stand up so that people can see you? They strive to make the countries that they are posted in better places to live. And I think we should give them all a round of applause. Thank you. Sit down, please.

During our time here, I was often reminded of the words of St. Lucian Nobel laureate Derek Walcott. He said: "I read, I travel, I become." Of course, I read and heard quite a bit about Saint Lucia before coming here. 

But it was through this visit, seeing the island's vibrance and beauty with my own eyes, that I truly came to know your country. So I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Going forward, our government will continue to work with St. Lucia to achieve your developmental goals. I am confident that our friendship will go from strength to strength, and set the standard for global sustainable cooperation. 

Once again, I want to thank you all for welcoming our delegation with open arms. And I want to thank my delegation for giving their all for Taiwan's diplomacy on this trip. All of you helped make this state visit a success. So I want to thank you.

So now, let me ask you to raise your glasses. And I would like to invite you to join me in a toast to our friendship and a sustainable future for all! Cheers!