PRESS RELEASE – THE Honourable Stephenson King, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour, ended a successful five-day working-visit to Taiwan.
During his stay, he met with Taiwan’s President H.E. Tsai Ing-wen and reassured her of Saint Lucia’s enduring friendship and commitment to the relationship between the two countries, which is founded on shared values and principles of respect for democracy, human rights and freedom.
He took the opportunity to thank the President for the valuable assistance and cooperation that Taiwan has provided Saint Lucia under the bilateral cooperation agreement. That support has made a tremendous contribution to the economic and social development of the island.
Minister King then went on to meet other Government Ministers and officials and explored concrete proposals and ideas for further strengthening cooperation.
The senior figures with whom he met were, Mr Shen Jong-chin, the Minister of Economic Affairs; Mr Wang Kwo-tsai, Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications; and Amb Jose Maria Lui, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister also met with the President of the Overseas Investment and Development Corporation, the Taiwan External Trade and Development Council and the Taiwan Glass Industry Corporation.
A highlight of the visit was a reception for nationals, hosted by the Saint Lucian Embassy in the capital Taipei, at which the Minister was guest of honour. At the reception he updated the participants, most of whom were students, on Government’s plans and programmes as well as its vision regarding the relationship with Taiwan.
The Minister welcomed Edwin Laurent, the country’s new Ambassador, who had just arrived in Taipei. For his part the Ambassador assured the Saint Lucians living in Taiwan that the Embassy will continue to work for them.
He also complimented those students who had been performing superbly in their studies and exams. Their excellence and achievements he said reflect well on Saint Lucia and make the country proud. He reminded them that even after they return home they will be symbols of the success of the Saint Lucia/Taiwan friendship and partnership.
The Vice President of the Association of Saint Lucian in Taiwan Mr Nyhymn Terrance thanked the Minister for his presentation and expressed appreciation for the support that the Embassy has been providing to students.