BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 14TH 2011 (CUOPM) – President of the Republic of China on Taiwan, His Excellency Ma Ying-jeou has hailed the outstanding leadership of St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Welcoming the St. Kitts and Nevis leader to the Republic of China on Taiwan, President Ma noted that the visit of Prime Minister Douglas is his eighth visit to the Asian nation, but is the first since he took office.
“Although this is the first time we have met, we talked right before I was elected as the President on May 1st 2008,” said the Taiwanese President.
In bestowing “The Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon,” President Ma noted that the Republic of China on Taiwan had also bestowed on Prime Minister Douglas, “The Order of the Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon” which he said is very rare.
President Ma highlighted the four successive election victories at the polls in 1995, 2000, 2004 and 2010, of Prime Minister Douglas and described him as a “legend of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).”
President Ma pointed to Dr. Douglas participatory role in the strengthening of cooperation in regional institutions including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
“You have enjoyed high reputation and is greatly respected in the Caribbean,” said President Ma, noting that St. Kitts and Nevis established formal diplomatic relations in 1983 and St. Kitts and Nevis is also the first country in the Caribbean to establish formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
“We will continue to maintain our good and cordial relations and cooperation between our two countries and based on our mutual consensus will continue to strengthen our bilateral cooperation,” said the Taiwanese leader.
President Ma said that during the 27 years of diplomatic relationship Taiwan is pleased to be able to participate in the infrastructural development in several areas including medical health, education, agriculture, industry and pledged the continued assistance of his government.
The Taiwan President also praised Prime Minister Douglas for “assigning a very capable and popular Ambassador to Taiwan, Her Excelelncy Ms. Jasmine Huggins.”
“I sincerely hope that the bilateral relations between our two countries will continue to go from strength,” said President Ma.
