ROC President Ma Ying-jeou received St. Kitts and Nevis’s highest civilian honor during a ceremony March 10 at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
Ma was presented with the Order of St. Christopher and Nevis by the Caribbean nation’s Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas. The award is in recognition of the president’s efforts to improve cross-strait relations and bolster ties with the ROC diplomatic ally.
Reading from a citation, Douglas said the award expresses the deepest admiration of his government and people for Ma’s “eminent merits.”
The president took the opportunity to present Douglas, who was meeting Ma for the first time, the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon.
“Douglas is a well-respected political leader who has worked tirelessly since taking office in 1995 to promote regional collaboration through bodies such as the Caribbean Community and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States,” Ma said.
In accepting the award, Douglas lauded bilateral ties of 28 years’ standing and described the ROC as a model for development.
“Our nations see human rights, the rule of law and democracy as core values,” he said. “We will continue supporting the ROC and its efforts to secure expanded participation in international organizations.”
Douglas said his government looks forward to pursuing joint development opportunities in information technology and green energy. “We envisage working as a stepping stone for Taiwanese enterprises to expand their presence in the Caribbean market,” he added.
In response, Ma said he expects both sides will further cement cooperation with a view to enhancing the welfare of their people. (JSM)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw