Arriving in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the eastern Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, President Chen Shui-bian (
Greeted by school children chanting, "President A-bian, how are you? Welcome!" in Mandarin, Chen was also welcomed by all of the high-ranking officials of the country, which has a population of roughly 110,000.
A military band was even playing the Taiwanese folk song, Setting Out Happily (
PHOTO: CNA
The two countries have had diplomatic ties for 24 years, but a Taiwanese president had never visited the country until Wednesday. The country, which achieved independence from Britain in 1979, relies on exporting agricultural products, such as banana and coconut. Per capita GDP is about US$3,300.
When greeting Chen at a ceremony held near the airport, Governor-General Frederick Blallantyne said that both nations are multi-island countries but have different economic situations. He hoped to see the diplomatic ties eventually bring prosperity to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, one of the poorest countries in the world.
The ceremony had several programs which made guests from the other side of the planet feel welcome. Children sang a famous Taiwanese folk song, Looking Forward Spring (
For Chen's arrival, the public was given half a day off and were encouraged to welcome him at the airport.
Chen, who left Taiwan 10 days ago, said the warm greeting made him less homesick.
"Such a big gathering reminds me of election campaign rallies I've been very familiar with. The sound of Looking Forward Spring eases my homesickness. The famous song is known to almost every Taiwanese. In a way, it's like our national anthem," Chen said.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said Chen's two-day visit was a big event for the entire country.
Chen's speech to the House of Assembly yesterday morning was to be televised live nationwide.
After the speech, Chen was to be taken to the Kingstown Vegetable Market to learn more about the country's agricultural products and people's lives.
Before Chen left yesterday, the two countries were to sign a communique to ensure continued friendship.
Elizabeth Chu (朱玉鳳), Taiwan's Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, told the Taipei Times that the cultural gap between both countries was wide. However, Chu said, securing the diplomatic relationship, which is mutually beneficial, relies on being acquainted with the country's current national policies. At this time, what the country needs most is a solution to problems regarding its banana products, since the EU will set a new banana-import tariff.
"Taiwan's technologies regarding processing agricultural products or planting organic ones might help local farmers here to make their products more competitive," Chu said.
Meanwhile, in Taipei, in response to a local Chinese-language newspaper which reported that Chen would make an unscheduled transit stop in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to upgrade Taiwan's international profile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it has "no comment."
According to Chen's original itinerary, he was scheduled to make a transit stop tomorrow in San Francisco on his return from Latin America.
"But now he will fly to the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi and stay overnight, and return home on Oct. 2," the United Daily News said.
Noting the president has already dismissed reports of any unscheduled visit to another country, foreign ministry Spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said Chen's itinerary would continue as scheduled.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
ISOLATION: The outposts would serve as support and backup bases, forcing US forces to either face China head-on or reroute, increasing travel time and operational costs China’s outposts in the South China Sea could be used to delay and constrain foreign forces during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, giving Beijing a critical window to carry out amphibious landing and blockade operations, a report said. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forward operating bases on islands and reclaimed features in the South China Sea could delay foreign forces long enough for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to secure a key 48-to-72-hour window in the Taiwan Strait, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council found. The report, conducted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, examined
RSS