Taiwan foreign affairs minister visits St Lucia

Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy Yang will visit the governor-general, the prime minister and his St Lucian counterpart during his January 5-8 visit.

CASTRIES, St Lucia, Friday January 6, 2012 - Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy Yang arrived in St Lucia yesterday, his first stop in a four-nation visit to Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.

The Taiwanese official will call on Governor-General Pearlette Louisy, Prime Minister Kenny Anthony and Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste.

He is due to review the operations of the local embassy, inspect Taiwan-sponsored projects that promote agricultural development, and visit the reconstruction of a hospital that was devastated by fire in 2009.

This is Yang’s second visit to this country since he assumed office in 2009.

St. Lucia established diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 2006, after it broke ties with China.

After departing St Lucia on Sunday, Yang and his team of senior ministry officials will visit Nicaragua, Guatemala and The Gambia for the presidential inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega January 10, Guatemalan President-elect Otto Perez's inauguration January 14 and Gambian President Yahya J.J. Jammeh's inauguration on January 19.

James Chang, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Yang will meet the heads of state and senior government officials to extend congratulations and discuss bilateral relations, Taiwan media reports stated.

“The minister will reaffirm the ROC’s stance on strengthening mutually beneficial relations with its diplomatic allies and continuing cooperation projects related to the livelihood of the people,” Chang explained. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)