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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 25, 2017 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – After close to 34 years of mutually beneficial relations, the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has signaled its intention to further cement its diplomatic relationship with the Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis.

 

That was the message delivered by Taiwan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency José María Liu on behalf of Taiwan’s President Her Excellency Dr. Tsai Ing-Wen, when he met with Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris on Thursday, August 24, 2017, at Government Headquarters.

 

Vice Minister Liu said his Government’s plan to further deepen its bilateral relations with St. Kitts and Nevis will be coordinated through three specified areas; (1) the purchasing of products produced here in the Federation, once these products are standardized and meet all of Taiwan’s sanitary regulations; (2) encouraging Taiwanese enterprises to seek investment opportunities that are available in St. Kitts and Nevis; and (3) through the provision of assistance towards the completion of infrastructure projects.

 

In response, Prime Minister Harris expressed his profound gratitude to the Taiwanese Government for its continued partnership with St. Kitts and Nevis.

 

The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister also reflected on the longstanding relationship shared between both nations, adding, “You were the first among the world body of near 200 countries with which St. Kitts and Nevis established diplomatic relations and that makes the relationship extremely special. Today, of all those countries with whom Taiwan had established diplomatic relationships with, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent, are the two that remain in the Caribbean. St. Kitts of course has had this long, unbroken relationship with Taiwan and we hope for you this relationship then is as treasured and as special as it is for the people of St. Kitts.”   

 

Prime Minister Harris noted that St. Kitts and Nevis has and will continue to be a sincere ally of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

 

He added, “We have over the years continued to be a reliable friend and partner in Taiwan’s own aspirations to be of service to the wider international community, whether at the World Health Assembly, the WTO, the United Nations— at every forum St. Kitts has been a credible, reliable and sincere advocate on Taiwan’s behalf and we intend to continue in that regard to do so because we strongly believe that Taiwan and its people have so much to give to the world in a variety of areas based on your knowledge and experience.”

 

Also present during Thursday’s meeting were Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency George Gow Wei Chiou; Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Andrew Skerritt; Foreign Officer Kervin Lloyd and staff of the Taiwan Embassy in St. Kitts.

 

St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) established diplomatic relations on September 23, 1983.