New Southbound Policy Portal

President Tsai Ing-wen continued her official visit July 16 to St. Kitts and Nevis on the second leg of the Journey of Freedom, Democracy, Sustainability to Taiwan’s four Caribbean allies, according to the Presidential Office.
 
During Tsai’s meeting with Governor-General S. W. Tapley Seaton at Government House, she pledged to strengthen bilateral relations across a broad spectrum of areas. 
 
Since establishing official ties in 1983, Tsai said Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis have cooperated on many projects spanning agriculture, information communication technology, public health and talent cultivation. These endeavors reflect the commitment of the like-minded countries to promoting peace and prosperity while advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, she added.
 
Tsai also joined Seaton in planting a tree outside Government House to mark the 36-year friendship, and received the Order of St. Kitts and Nevis from the governor-general for her contributions to promoting two-way ties.
 
The day before, Tsai and Prime Minister Timothy S. Harris witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Vocational Education and Training Cooperation by Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu and Shawn K. Richards, deputy prime minister and minister of education, youth, sport and culture. 
 
The pact underscores Taiwan’s willingness to share its experience with St. Kitts and Nevis, Tsai said, adding that the government will continue strengthening collaboration based on the principle of mutual assistance for mutual benefits to create an even brighter future for people of both sides.
 
Other highlights of Tsai’s stay include attending a dinner banquet in her honor hosted by Harris and visiting Berkeley Memorial, Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, Hamilton House—residence of U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton—and Museum of Nevis History.
 
The trip is Tsai’s first to the region as head of state and seventh abroad since assuming office in May 2016. Accompanying officials include Wu, National Security Council Secretary-General David Tawei Lee and Secretary-General to the President Chen Chu. 
 
Tsai and her delegation will travel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, as well as stopover in the U.S. city of Denver, before returning July 22 to Taiwan. (SFC-E)
 
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