The Republic of Gambia, one of the nation's diplomatic allies in West Africa, will send a delegation headed by its top education official on a five-day visit beginning today, officials said yesterday.
Gambian Secretary of State for Education Fatou Faye, Deputy Secretary of State for Education Barboucarr Bouy and a five-member team will arrive in Taipei today on a fact-finding mission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released yesterday.
The delegation is scheduled to visit a number of ministries and training centers, including the Council of Labor Affairs' Training Center, the Taishan Vocational School, the International Cooperation and Development Fund's (ICDF) headquarters and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the statement said.
Gambia has been a staunch ally of Taiwan, the ministry said, and its support for Taiwan was most recently illustrated during the failed bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO) in May.
During a meeting to discuss revisions to the International Health Regulations during the World Health Assembly, Gambian Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare Tamsir Mbowe began speaking in support of Taiwan's bid to join the world health body. However, he was interrupted by Chinese representatives, who began banging their fists on tables and shouting in an effort to disrupt Mbowe's speech.
The incident sparked a minor diplomatic row between Taiwan's allies and China at the WHO.
The ICDF, which is responsible for Taiwan's aid and humanitarian efforts overseas, currently has one technical mission, one technical assistance project and one investment and lending project active in Gambia. The technical mission has 11 staff members, according to the ICDF.
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