Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) departed for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday to attend their 45th Independence Day celebrations as President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) special envoy. His itinerary also includes Guatemala, Belize, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Lin said that in addition to participating in various celebration activities, he will meet with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Governor-General Susan Dougan and Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to exchange views and discuss future cooperation directions.
To further strengthen the friendship between Taiwan and its allies in Latin America and the Caribbean, Lin will hold bilateral talks with the heads of state and other government officials in all four countries as he visits them. He pointed out that Taiwan has long been collaborating with these countries in public health, agriculture, education, and other areas; while he is abroad, he will also inspect the results of these ongoing collaborations.
This is Lin’s first public visit to a diplomatic ally since taking office. He emphasized that his aim for this trip is to explain his comprehensive plan for diplomacy under the “prospered-ties” (榮邦) model, and to continue deepening cooperation between Taiwan and its allies to the benefit of their citizens.