Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaushieh Joseph Wu, led a delegation to visit the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia on October 28th as a special envoy of the President. During the visit, Minister Wu had separate meetings with Acting Governor-General Charles, Prime Minister Philip, Senate President Reynolds, and House Speaker Francis, showcasing the achievements of Taiwan’s diplomatic, economic, and trade policies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated that Minister Wu arrived in Saint Lucia on the morning of the 28th local time, meeting with Acting Governor-General Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. In the afternoon of the same day, Minister Wu proceeded to the Parliament to hold bilateral talks with Senate President Alvina Reynolds and House Speaker Claudius J. Francis. The atmosphere of the discussions was productive and enthusiastic, with a wide exchange of opinions on international affairs and the Taiwan-Saint Lucia relationship.
Prime Minister Pierre acknowledged that Taiwan has long provided substantial assistance to Saint Lucia in alignment with the country’s needs, a gesture deeply appreciated by the government and people of Saint Lucia. He emphasized the commitment to continue assisting each other’s development on the existing solid foundation of cooperation, fostering a deeper friendship between the two nations.
Senate President Reynolds and House Speaker Francis, who visited Taiwan in October to attend the National Day celebrations, extended a special invitation to Minister Wu to visit the Saint Lucian Parliament. They expressed gratitude to the Taiwanese government for its warm reception and praised Taiwan’s political, economic, and cultural development, hoping that Saint Lucia can learn and draw inspiration from Taiwan’s experiences.
In his remarks, Minister Wu emphasized that Saint Lucia is an important ally of Taiwan in the Caribbean region, sharing values of freedom and democracy and standing together against the threats of authoritarian regimes. He expressed special appreciation for Saint Lucia’s steadfast support for Taiwan’s participation in the international community, including Health Minister Moses Jn. Baptiste and Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste advocating for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly.
Minister Wu highlighted the close cooperation between Taiwan and Saint Lucia over the years in education, technology, public health, infrastructure, women’s empowerment, and youth empowerment through various bilateral projects. He outlined Taiwan’s commitment to utilizing comprehensive diplomacy to share Taiwan’s technological advantages and experiences, assisting in Saint Lucia’s economic development, and aiming to foster a partnership that promotes prosperity and sustainable development.
Additionally, Minister Wu, accompanied by Saint Lucian officials, attended the award ceremony for the “Digital Government Innovation” course at the Saint Lucia National Information and Communications Center. He also participated in the inauguration ceremony of the “Health Information Collection System” and visited the “Taiwan-Saint Lucia Market,” gaining firsthand insights into the achievements of bilateral technical cooperation projects between Taiwan and Saint Lucia.
At the award ceremony, Minister Wu commended the effective use of AI tools by Saint Lucian civil servants in creating and promoting the “Digital Government.” He stressed the importance of vigilance against misinformation and cyber attacks while underscoring Taiwan’s expertise in ICT and its willingness to share digital transformation experiences with friendly nations like Saint Lucia to provide smart solutions that support national development.
Furthermore, in the presence of Prime Minister Pierre and the entire Saint Lucian Cabinet, Minister Wu, together with Health Minister Moses Jn. Baptiste, unveiled the Saint Lucian “Health Information Collection System.” Developed through collaboration between Taiwan’s National Taiwan University Hospital and the Saint Lucian Ministry of Health, the system facilitates the digital collection of community and household screening data by healthcare personnel, establishing a mechanism for case management, analysis, and surveillance to support decision-making on chronic disease-related issues.
Accompanied by House Speaker Francis and Agriculture Minister Prospere, Minister Wu also toured the “Taiwan-Saint Lucia Market,” experiencing firsthand the collaborative results of various bilateral projects between Taiwan and Saint Lucia. The market featured several specialty vendors showcasing agricultural products, processed goods, and handicrafts produced by farmers and micro/small-scale entrepreneurs under the guidance of the TaiwanICDF, receiving a warm welcome from the local residents.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) emphasized that since the re-establishment of diplomatic ties with Saint Lucia in 2007, Taiwan and Saint Lucia have closely collaborated in multiple areas. Current projects being implemented by Taiwan in Saint Lucia include agriculture marketing, local industrial support, ICT, metabolic chronic diseases, youth and women’s empowerment, and Mandarin education, which have been well received and appreciated by both Saint Lucian officials and the public. Saint Lucian ministers commended Minister Wu for Taiwan’s impactful projects that directly benefit the people of Saint Lucia, citing Taiwan as a positive example of advancing “comprehensive diplomacy” by combining democratic values with economic, trade, and technological advantages.