Taiwan and its Caribbean allies are all island nations that face similar opportunities and challenges, and have long cooperated to achieve the UN SDGs. During this journey, President Tsai made on-site visits to better understand the status of cooperative projects that Taiwan and the four host nations are pursuing—in keeping with the spirit of "steadfast diplomacy and mutual assistance for mutual benefits"—to achieve those goals.
For example, to help ensure better health and well-being for people of all ages, the president attended an exhibition of the achievements produced by cooperation between Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and learned about the achievements of the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes. In Saint Lucia, she attended a reconstruction project launch ceremony for St. Jude Hospital.
Another SDG objective is building resilient infrastructure, and in Haiti, President Tsai received a briefing on a bilateral cooperative project to upgrade the domestic power grid. She also attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Pinney's Beach Park Project in St. Christopher and Nevis, and launched the "Intelligent Bus Management and Monitoring System Project for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines" as well as the "Government Island-wide Network (GINet) Project" in Saint Lucia.
In promoting another SDG objective—providing equitable and quality education—President Tsai emphasized to our diplomatic allies that Taiwan will continue to help them develop human resources by providing a variety of scholarships and opportunities to receive technical and vocational education. To address the SDG objective to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture, Taiwan is using its agricultural technology to help St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Saint Lucia revitalize their banana industries, develop new international markets, and increase farmers’ incomes. Through these substantive cooperation projects, Taiwan has clearly demonstrated to our diplomatic allies and the entire world our determination to achieve the UN SDGs and contribute to the international community.