President Lai Ching-te thanked allied nations Tuvalu and St. Lucia for speaking in support of Taiwan on international platforms, according to the Presidential Office.
Lai received a delegation led by Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo Oct. 8 at the PO in Taipei City in the run-up to the national day celebration. This marked Teo’s second visit to Taiwan since he took office in February this year.
Lai said that at this year’s United Nations General Assembly, Teo called for the international community to recognize that U.N. Resolution 2758 does not exclude Taiwan’s participation in international bodies.
Over the years, Taiwan and Tuvalu have worked in collaboration on projects such as a coastal adaptation plan, Lai said, adding that the two nations would continue working together to respond to climate change. The two will also continue to build deeper ties in agriculture, fishing, information and communications technology, and medicine.
In response, Teo congratulated Lai on the forthcoming national day and said that a cornerstone of his policy is to enhance the 45-year-old ties the country has enjoyed with Taiwan. He concluded by voicing appreciation for Taiwan’s assistance with the issue of rising sea levels that affect the island nation.
On the same day, Lai met with a delegation led by St. Lucia Senate President Alvina Reynolds and Speaker Claudius J. Francis. He noted that the two countries cooperate in agriculture, economy and personnel training with positive results.
Since the end of the pandemic, the two sides have jointly promoted youth and female empowerment and vocational training to improve industrial processing technologies and competitiveness, creating more job opportunities.
Taiwan will deepen its bond with St. Lucia through values-based diplomacy, Lai said, adding that it would also advance economic diplomacy with St. Lucia and other democratic partners to stimulate industry and benefit citizens.
In response, Reynolds noted that the bilateral partnership has made a positive impact on the country, especially for children, women and those with physical challenges. She concluded by lauding Taiwan’s major contribution to St. Lucia’s medical sector. (POC-E)
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