From Focus Taiwan

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that she hopes Taiwan will be able to make a greater global contribution with the continued support of its diplomatic ally.

The six-member delegation including Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar and Minister of Economic Planning Camillo Gonsalves arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday for a five-day trip.

The delegation will discuss issues of mutual concern and exchange views on cooperation with heads of Taiwan’s government agencies to gain a better understanding of developments in the areas of politics, economics and agriculture.

Tsai said that since Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations in 1981, the countries have promoted a number of bilateral cooperation projects covering a range of areas which have produced positive results.

In agriculture, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which used to rely on imports of pork, has become self sufficient in pork after a joint hog raising project launched by the two countries proved successful, according to Tsai.

Describing Saint Vincent’s Argyle International Airport which opened in February as the country’s most important infrastructure project, Tsai said Taiwan was pleased to be one of about 10 countries that participated in its construction.

After the airport starts full operations, it is expected to boost tourism, attract greater inflows of international capital and stimulate economic development, Tsai added.

Taiwan will encourage Taiwanese businessmen to invest in the Caribbean country by forging new cooperative ties between the two countries that are reciprocal and mutually beneficial as its economy takes off, according to the president.

Tsai also expressed gratitude to the the Caribbean country’s government for its staunch support of Taiwan’s efforts to participate more in the international community.

She particularly thanked Prime Minister Ralph E. Gonsalves for the address he made in support of Taiwan during the general debate of the 71st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in September last year.

Tsai stressed her hope that with the support of its ally, Taiwan will be able to contribute to the world more in such areas as medical care, public health, aviation safety and regional peace.

The delegation will attend the Cultural Festival for Latin America and the Caribbean on Saturday before returning home.

(By Sophia Yeh and Evelyn Kao)
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