February 14, 2015
No. 030
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China David Y. L. Lin led a delegation to Burkina Faso, an ROC diplomatic ally in West Africa, for an official visit that started on February 10, 2015. Accompanied by ROC Ambassador to Burkina Faso Shen Cheng-hong, Minister Lin met with Burkina Faso’s interim President Michel Kafando, who concurrently is Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Prime Minister Yacouba I. Zida, who concurrently serves as Minister of Defense, President of the National Transitional Council Chériff Sy, and Minister of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation Moussa B. Nebie.
President Kafando, Prime Minister Zida, and other high-ranking Burkinabe officials warmly welcomed the ROC delegation. In addition to commending the ROC for its sincere assistance in the national development of Burkina Faso, they reiterated their staunch support for ROC participation in international organizations and requested that Minister Lin convey their respect to ROC President Ma Ying-jeou.
Minister Lin conveyed regards from President Ma to President Kafando and Prime Minister Zida. While expressing concern about Burkina Faso’s political transition in 2014, he praised the interim government for its efforts in restoring social stability. Furthermore, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, Minister Lin thanked Burkina Faso for its steadfast support for the ROC in the international arena, and pledged to continue efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
During his trip, Minister Lin visited various sites of bilateral cooperation. These included Kienfangué Elementary School, a beneficiary of the Light for Africa project; a vocational center under construction in Ouagadougou; the Ziniaré Demonstration Center for Vocational Training; a solar energy station at the Presidential Palace; and the national hospital. In addition, Minister Lin visited the ROC Embassy and received a briefing from Ambassador Shen. He also had dinner with overseas compatriots and Taiwan businessmen currently in Burkina Faso, staff members of the ROC Embassy and Technical Mission and their family members, as well as ROC youth fulfilling alternative military service in Burkina Faso. He thanked them for their dedication and encouraged them to enhance the ROC’s international image and strengthen the ROC-Burkina Faso friendship.
This was Minister Lin’s second trip to Burkina Faso, following a five-hour stopover en route to Honduras with President Ma in late January 2014. However, it marked his first official visit to the country as the head of an ROC government delegation.
The Burkinabe government extended high-level courtesy to the ROC delegation, who were met and seen off at the airport by Minister of State Nebie and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation Jacob Pasgo. The Burkinabe government also hosted a welcome dinner for the delegation, while heads of government agencies accompanied the delegation on visits to various sites. Minister Lin returned to Taiwan on February 13 following the successful completion of the trip, which has effectively consolidated the cordial ties and mutual understanding between the ROC and Burkina Faso at the highest levels. (E)