Alexander Tah-ray Yui
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
August 26, 2021
(As Delivered)
Good evening and good morning!
I am very pleased to offer my salutations from Taiwan at the virtual presentation of the award-winning project City Life Terminal: Before and After by Lorenzo Bacchus, a Taiwan Scholarship alumnus. The underlining concept of his project—that a bus terminal does not represent the end of a journey—puts me in mind of the idea that our countries’ ongoing celebration of 40 years of diplomatic ties is also a new beginning in our long-standing friendship. My special recognition to Her Excellency Ambassador Andrea Bowman for her tireless effort in organizing a series of events, not only to celebrate our diplomatic ties, but also to commemorate the second anniversary of the establishment of your embassy here in Taiwan. Bravo! This significant moment allows us not only to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this partnership itself, but also the fruitful results of our bilateral cooperation on education. Lorenzo Bacchus is a shining example. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I congratulate Mr. Bacchus and Bacchus Design & Construction on the success of this project. At the same time, I would also like to acknowledge how diplomatic relations have yielded wide-ranging benefits for both of our peoples. We deeply value our friendship with your nation and greatly appreciate the staunch support you have lent to Taiwan in the international arena.
Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have enjoyed a profound and rewarding partnership since 1981. Over the past four decades, our relationship has steadily expanded into many areas of social and economic development, including agriculture, public health, ICT, tourism, and trade. Since 2004, Taiwan has also awarded more than 200 scholarships to students from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. More than 60 of these scholarship recipients have now graduated, and the majority have returned home, with some even joining government service. Mr. Bacchus is one outstanding alumnus who will surely make his own significant and uniquely personal contribution to the development of our sister nation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Thank you again for inviting me to speak at this special and meaningful event. Let us continue to work together to further deepen and strengthen our friendship and the partnership between our nations. I wish you all good health and success.
Thank you!