President Tsai Ing-wen received St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and his delegation Aug. 8 at the Presidential Office in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthen bilateral ties with allies while furthering cooperation on educational and judicial issues.
The exchanges between Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are growing ever closer, Tsai said. The two countries have overcome challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to expand cooperation to advance national welfare in areas spanning economic transformation and women’s empowerment.
Tsai also took the opportunity to thank Gonsalves for speaking in support of Taiwan at many international events since he took office in 2001. His staunch backing during China’s military exercises in waters around Taiwan is sincerely appreciated, she said.
As the General Coordinator of the Formosa Club in the Caribbean, Gonsalves continues to support Taiwan’s international participation, Tsai said, adding that under his leadership and through mutual cooperation, the two sides will create further prosperity and progress.
In response, Gonsalves said the relations between the two countries are grounded in unbreakable people-to-people links. St. Vincent and the Grenadines will never allow any independent activity to interfere with its bilateral collaboration with Taiwan, he added.
Following the meeting, Tsai witnessed the signing of the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, the Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and the Letter of Intent on Higher Education.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the judicial pacts were inked by Justice Minister Tsai Ching-hsiang and Gonsalves. The former allows cooperation in the process of criminal investigation, prosecution, court procedure, video interrogation, document provision, execution of searches and seizures and crime prevention; while the latter provides sentenced persons with opportunities to serve the sentences in their home countries under certain conditions, the ministry added.
Under the LOI signed by Education Minister Pan Wen-chung and Gonsalves, the Ministry of Education will share more higher education resources, help strengthen the Caribbean ally’s professional curriculum design and undertake further academic cooperation, according to the MOE.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “Commitment, courage & loyalty: The virtues of @ComradeRalph were celebrated by Minister Wu alongside @iingwen during a 1st-class welcome at the Presidential Office. Our thanks to the PM for inking 2 treaties & an LOI deepening #Taiwan-#StVincentAndTheGrendaines cooperation.” (YCH-E)
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