President Lai meets Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
On the afternoon of May 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and his wife. In remarks, President Lai said that Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines not only supported each other during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also continued to deepen collaboration in important areas including post-pandemic recovery, women’s empowerment, and youth employment, enhancing our diplomatic partnership. The president thanked St. Vincent and the Grenadines for showing great concern and support for Taiwan. He also expressed hope that our two countries will continue working together in the international arena to contribute even more to global prosperity and development.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
Prime Minister Gonsalves has been a close friend of Taiwan for many years. On this visit, his 12th as prime minister, he attended the inauguration ceremony of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I offer my most heartfelt welcome.
In recent years, exchanges between Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have grown closer. Our cooperation in such areas as infrastructure development, agriculture, public health, and information and communications technology has been very fruitful. Our two countries not only supported each other during the pandemic, but we also continued to deepen collaboration in important areas including post-pandemic recovery, women’s empowerment, and youth employment, caring for the well-being of our peoples and enhancing our diplomatic partnership.
The people and government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines promptly offered condolences and humanitarian aid after Taiwan’s earthquake early last month. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my utmost appreciation.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has shown great concern and support for Taiwan, including in the international arena. For instance, Prime Minister Gonsalves has voiced strong support for Taiwan’s international participation at the United Nations General Assembly, and his government has spoken up for Taiwan at international venues, including at the World Health Assembly.
I hope that our two countries will continue working together in the international arena to contribute even more to global prosperity and development. Lastly, I would like to once again warmly welcome Prime Minister Gonsalves, Mrs. Gonsalves, and the delegation members, and wish you all a smooth and successful visit.
Prime Minister Gonsalves then delivered remarks, saying that the relationship of our two countries has been a very strategic one based on clear principles and a genuine love for each other. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he said, does not practice a foreign policy with a “for sale” sign, metaphorically, in its diplomatic window. That’s why blandishments, from whatever source, trouble it not, he said.
Prime Minister Gonsalves stated that his country considers this relationship to be an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken. He said that we have been engaged in many important infrastructure projects of benefit to his country, and that Taiwan’s generosity in this regard has been well-known for their people. But, he said, of far great significance, in his view, has been the people-to-people relationship which we developed, whether through students, farmers, or the empowerment of women, and these represent unwritten memorials in the hearts and minds of the people. The prime minister stated that there are many initiatives which continue to roll on, many of them current and many of them prospective.
Prime Minister Gonsalves closed his remarks by thanking President Lai for taking time out to meet with them, and for warmly welcoming his delegation. The prime minister also invited President Lai to visit St. Vincent and Grenadines in the future.
The delegation, including Senator Shackell Bobb, was accompanied to the Presidential Office by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Bowman.