Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said on Thursday that Gambia was worthy of its name as "Africa's smiling coast" because its people are so ready to smile and show goodwill and hospitality.
Su said he had immediately gotten that impression upon his arrival in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, to attend the inauguration of re-elected Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
Su and his entourage received a warm welcome from Gambian Vice President Isatou N'jie-Saidy and many other senior officials and ordinary citizens at Banjul's international airport.
The official welcome ceremony included a number of dazzling song and dance performances. Su said he felt honored to receive a welcome with such great pomp and splendor.
Su said that on his way to his hotel, many Gambian people waved to him.
"I'm impressed by the Gambian people's radiant smiles and kindness," Su told a group of Taiwanese reporters covering his trip.
This is Su's first overseas trip since he assumed the premiership in January.
Brief rest
After a brief rest at his hotel, Su the paid a visit to the embassy in Banjul, where he donated US$35,000 to Gambia for use in AIDS prevention efforts.
Gambia's health minister accepted the donation on behalf of his country.
Ambassador to Gambia Chang Pei-chi (張北齊) told Su that relations between the two countries have been firm and cordial since they resumed diplomatic ties in 1995.
Top leaders of the countries have exchanged visits frequently.
President Chen and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) have also paid visits to Gambia in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
Gambian President Jammeh vehemently supports Taiwan and bans Gambian officials from having any political contacts with their Chinese counterparts, Chang said.
Noting that Jammeh expects his country to realize the goal of food self-sufficiency by 2015 and become the "Silicon Valley of Africa" by 2020, Chang said that the Embassy exhorts Taiwanese entrepreneurs to invest in Gambia -- particularly in its telecommunications industry -- to help invigorate its economy and shore up bilateral relations.
Tsai Chun-hsiung (蔡俊雄), head of Taiwan's technical mission stationed in Gambia, said the mission had built tidal irrigation systems in the SAPU riverside region for rice plantation.
"We have successfully developed 1,000 hectares of rice paddies in the area, contributing much to Gambia's rice production," he added.
In addition to transferring farming know-how, Tsai said the technical mission was also endeavoring to spread information about sustainable development in Gambia and help with the formation of farmers' associations to facilitate agricultural processing and marketing.
Future projects
The cooperation projects would expand to aquaculture and digital technology development in the future, he added.
For his part, Su lauded embassy staff and technical mission members for their efforts in relaying the Taiwan people's goodwill, developmental experience and expertise to Gambians.
"Your dedication has helped cement our friendship with our African ally," Su added.
In the evening, Su and his entourage attended a state dinner hosted by Jammeh at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
En route to Banjul, Su and his entourage made a one-hour stop in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for refueling of their chartered plane.
Costa Rica sent a group of intelligence officials to Taiwan for a short-term training program, the first time the Central American country has done so since the countries ended official diplomatic relations in 2007, a Costa Rican media outlet reported last week. Five officials from the Costa Rican Directorate of Intelligence and Security last month spent 23 days in Taipei undergoing a series of training sessions focused on national security, La Nacion reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. The Costa Rican government has not confirmed the report. The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica protested the news, saying in a statement issued the same
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
CASE: Prosecutors have requested heavy sentences, citing a lack of remorse and the defendants’ role in ‘undermining the country’s democratic foundations’ Five people affiliated with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), including senior staff from the party’s Taipei branch, were indicted yesterday for allegedly forging thousands of signatures to recall two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers. Those indicted include KMT Taipei chapter director Huang Lu Chin-ru (黃呂錦茹), secretary-general Chu Wen-ching (初文卿) and secretary Yao Fu-wen (姚富文), the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said in a news release. Prosecutors said the three were responsible for fabricating 5,211 signature forms — 2,537 related to the recall of DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) and 2,674 for DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) — with forged entries accounting for