Prime Minister Harris Hosts Luncheon in Honour of Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr Jaushieh Joseph Wu

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, May 28, 2019 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris today (Tuesday, May 28) hosted a special luncheon at Marshall’s Restaurant in recognition of the visit to the country by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Honourable Dr. Jaushieh Joseph Wu.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Wu, who is on an official visit to the twin island Federation, is being accompanied by his wife Mrs. Wu and the Director-General of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Mr. Alexander Tah-Ray Yui.

He is also accompanied by other dignitaries from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) including I-Chieh Chou, Senior Secretary in Minister’s Office; Yi-Cheng Lin, Section Chief in the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs and I-Ching Liu, Officer in Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs.

Prime Minister Harris was joined at today’s luncheon by his Cabinet colleagues Senior Minister the Honourable Vance Amory; the Honourable Ian Patches Liburd and Cabinet Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Huggins. Also on hand was Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Tom Lee.

At the luncheon, the honourable prime minister extended his own personal greetings and warmest welcome to His Excellency Dr. Wu and his delegation to St. Kitts and Nevis, and wished them a productive and memorable stay in the Federation.

Foreign Minister Wu acknowledged the longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship that exists between St. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan), noting that this visit provides him the perfect opportunity to further strengthen that friendship and see firsthand some of the projects both countries have collaborated on over the years.

“I was told that some of these projects are already underway and are working successfully and so I will look at them for myself, and if there is anything else that Taiwan can work with you on I would be very happy to discuss further with you,” the visiting Foreign Minister said.

His Excellency Dr. Wu also expressed his profound gratitude to Prime Minister Harris for his Government’s continued support for Taiwan at the international level.

He added, “I think for a country that has been isolated internationally, the most important thing is [to know that] we have a very good friend in St. Kitts and Nevis who is always willing to speak out on behalf of Taiwan. Just last week in Geneva was the World Health Assembly [where] your Minister of Health spoke out in such strong language for Taiwan’s participation and that is highly appreciated by the Government and the people in Taiwan. That level of support coming your Government to the Taiwan Government and Taiwanese people will strengthen our resolve in working further with you, and we will continue to do that.”

The visit to St. Kitts and Nevis by Taiwan’s Foreign Minister comes just over a month after Prime Minister Harris led a delegation to the Republic of China (Taiwan) where he was conferred with one of the country’s highest non-military orders and decorations – The Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon – by the President of Taiwan, Her Excellency Dr. Tsai Ing-wen.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley also visited the allied nation earlier this month to advance the already strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.

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