Summary
Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said Thursday that he hopes to deepen cooperation with Taiwan, including by expandi…
What this means for you
The article reports a Saint Lucian leader's hope to deepen cooperation with Taiwan and expand scholarships for students from Saint Lucia; it does not report any change to US visas, immigration rules, jobs, prices, education, safety, or family life for Chinese readers in the US. For readers focused on education, the only concrete scholarship detail is that more than 400 young people from Saint Lucia have received Taiwan scholarships to pursue higher education, and the prime minister expressed hope for expansion. Any practical effect described here is therefore about Saint Lucia-Taiwan educational and technical cooperation, not about US-based Chinese students, workers, or immigrants. Readers should not infer new US benefits or costs from this report.
Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said Thursday that he hopes to deepen cooperation with Taiwan, including by expanding scholarships for students from his country.
Pierre, who arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday for a five-day state visit, made the remarks during a meeting with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
The prime minister said Taiwan and Saint Lucia have faced similar challenges during their 19 years of friendship, including the effects of climate change. He cited an ongoing drought in Saint Lucia linked to El Niño, that has made it necessary for the country to develop an extensive rainwater harvesting system.
Climate change had also made classrooms in Saint Lucia increasingly hot, making more comfortable school environments an urgent priority, he said, adding that his government is modernizing and diversifying agriculture and developing renewable and alternative energy sources amid rising living costs, while hoping to continue exchanging expertise with Taiwan in those areas.
Furthermore, Pierre said education is highly valued in both Taiwan and Saint Lucia, adding that the Saint Lucian people are grateful for Taiwan's continued scholarship support.
"This is why the people of St. Lucia are so appreciative of the scholarships you continue to offer our students," he said.
"In this regard, we look forward to the expansion of our scholarship programs and the construction of a modern cultural and creative arts center," Pierre said.
According to the prime minister, more than 400 young people from Saint Lucia have so far received scholarships from Taiwan to pursue higher education.
Pierre stressed that people are a country's most valuable asset, thanking Taiwan for its assistance with training, scholarships and infrastructure. He also expressed hope that more Saint Lucian doctors, young scholars, students and professionals will come to Taiwan to study.
Pierre said he hopes closer ties between Taiwan and Saint Lucia will bring greater benefits to their people through concrete projects.
"As we look to the future with great optimism and our desire to make Saint Lucia one of the best places to live and work in the Caribbean, I thank you," he said.
Lai thanked Pierre for his continued support for Taiwan, noting that official and private-sector exchanges between the two countries have grown closer over the past two years.
Lai added that the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will hold the 19th Taiwan-Saint Lucia trade exhibition in Saint Lucia next month, with more than 70 local companies expected to participate alongside Taiwanese businesses.
Meanwhile, he also thanked Pierre for publicly supporting Taiwan's bid for full membership of the United Nations at the recent U.N. General Assembly session and called for continued cooperation on global challenges, including climate change and public health.
Following their meeting, Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) hosted Pierre and his wife at a state banquet, according to a Presidential Office press release.
Pierre expressed gratitude for Taiwan's longstanding assistance to Saint Lucia and again thanked Taiwan for its warm hospitality toward his delegation. He also invited Lai to visit Saint Lucia when his schedule permits, the office said.
(By Yeh Su-ping, Hsieh Yi-hsuan and Ko Lin)
Enditem/AW
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Source: Focus Taiwan
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