St.Kitts-Nevis Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Shawn Richards and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Mark Brantley leads a delegation who have joined over hundreds of dignitaries and delegations from around the world in Taiwan to participate in that country’s 104th National Day.
The Delegation landed in Taipei on Thursday evening St.Kitts-Nevis Time. While in Taiwan Deputy PM Richards and Foreign Affairs Minister Brantley are expected to meet with President Ma, Vice President Wu and other Cabinet members including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Education of Taiwan.
According to Minister Brantley the delegation is also expected to meet with students from St.Kitts-Nevis currently studying in Taiwan.
Brantley stated upon his arrival in Taiwan “ This is a beautiful and well developed country which has been a good friend to St. Kittts and Nevis for 32 years. I thank them for the kind invitation and for generously funding the visit. It is our expectation that we shall through these high level discussions further cement the bonds of friendship, cooperation and mutual respect that have been the hallmark of this long standing relationship.”
A total of 355 foreign dignitaries from 38 delegations are taking part in festivities marking the Republic of China’s 104th anniversary, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokeswoman Eleanor Wang.
Other Visitors from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies including Honduras Vice President Ricardo Antonio Alvarez Arias, Paraguay Vice President Juan Eudes Afara Maciel, Swaziland Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini, Solomon Islands Governor-General Sir Frank Ofagioro Kabul , U.S. Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, are some of the dignataries that will joing Deputy PM Richards and Minister Brantley in celebrating the historic anniversary.
Parliamentary delegations from Japan, South Korea and Scotland will also attend the celebration.
During the visit the delegation is also expected to visit the Taiwanese Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and Taipei Daan Industrial Vocational High School, as well as the National Palace Museum, National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area and Puli Winery and other cultural and economic facilities and the State Embassy.
Taiwan and China are closely related since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1983, both sides continue to benefit people’s livelihood in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, energy, education and cultural exchange and cooperation.