Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent: Thousands of Vincentians journeyed to the E.T. Joshua Airport Wednesday evening to welcome Taiwan’s president to the country.
It was the first time in the 24-year-long relationship between both countries that a Taiwan head of State was visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
President Chen Shui-bian was officially welcomed to SVG during a ceremony at the airport which heard addresses from Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph and President Chen himself.
Other government and state officials, including members of the Parliamentary opposition were also in attendance.
The welcoming ceremony, though formal enough to have been considered “official” was relaxed enough to make “ordinary” Vincentians feel welcomed.
The event was characteristic of the “family-like” relationship between the two nations.
In his brief welcoming address, Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne spoke of the similarities and differences between both nations.
“We are both multi-island nations, populated with people who are kind, ambitious and independent,” Sir Fredrick said.
“We also share a common desire for equal representation on the world stage and have a fundamental belief in the right of individual to self determination,” he continued.
Sir Fredrick Ballantyne also spoke of the stark differences between the two countries.
“While your country ranks as one of the richest among all nations, ours is one of the poorest. The challenge therefore is to explore ways to bridge this vast gap which exists between our countries and to find ways to educate our population to make them more productive and technologically advanced as a means of improving their standard of living,” Sir Fredrick Ballantyne said.
President Chen, speaking through an interpreter, spoke highly of the welcome received.
He lauded the efforts of the primary school students who had learned to say “Welcome to St. Vincent and the Grenadines President Chen” in Mandarin Chinese.
He said the crowd “almost feels like an election campaign,” an apparent innocent comment since this country is in fact preparing for a general elections which many Vincentians believe can come as soon as November.
This was but one of the many humorous statement President Chen’s made during his jovial address.
He joked about coming to SVG to contest in elections after his tenure as president expires in 2008.
On a more serious note, President Chen said St. Vincent and the Grenadines deserved its “long-standing status as the Jewels of the Caribbean.”
PM Gonsalves, spoke of the historic nature of the visit and expressed confidence that it would further cement the relationship between both nations.
“Today is enveloped in history-making. It is the first time that a head of state of the ROC on Taiwan is visiting our shores,” Gonsalves said.
“Our two countries are most loyal allies of each other. I am absolutely sure that this visit by President Chen and his most distinguished delegation will further deepen and consolidate the extraordinary strong bonds of love and friendship that exists between our two peoples, our countries and our leaders,” Gonsalves continued.
Gonsalves noted that President Chen will address Parliament Thursday morning.
“This event will be a most evocative symbol of our profound commitment to the endearing representative democracy of both our countries. This too is the tie that binds peace-loving peoples the world over,” Gonsalves said.
President Chen and PM Gonsalves are expected to sign a communiqué before Chen leaves St. Vincent Thursday afternoon.
The communiqué is expected to speak to continued relations between both nations, including Taiwan’s programme of assistance to this country.
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