Wednesday, 13th November 2024

St Kitts-Nevis foreign minister Brantley meets President of Taiwan

Tuesday, 7th May 2019

Mark Brantley, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation and Premier of Nevis, meets with Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

The President welcomed Brantley, stating that the visit of the Prime Minister Timothy Harris less than a month ago succeeded by Brantley’s third visit to Taiwan, bears testimony to the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.

“Our relationship has grown from strength to strength and we continue to achieve amazing things together”, President Tsai stated through an interpreter.

President Tsai referred to the challenges Taiwan continues to experience but is resolute, “Taiwan will not back down.” In the same vein, President Tsai acknowledged the support of St. Kitts and Nevis globally and requested that it be maintained.

Minister Brantley in his response, while thanking the President for her time, also expressed that this too signalled the value her government places on the relationship.

Brantley lauded Taiwan for the advances it has made in health, technology and energy, and that it stood tall as a beacon.

Brantley thanked Taiwan’s leader for its model assistance to the national development agenda of the Federation, especially in the areas of agriculture, education, energy, health, Information and Communications Technology and security.

Brantley made special mention of the many students who have been able to pursue higher education through the Taiwanese Government’s flagship Scholarship Programme. President Tsai indicated that Taiwan is open to receiving more students.

Brantley said that while other sectors have been doing well, he believes that private sector investment is “the next step in the evolution of our [longstanding] relationship”.

The President welcomed the idea and immediately organized for the St. Kitts and Nevis top diplomat to meet with members of the private sector to continue to explore possibilities.