TAIPEI, Taiwan, Visiting St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre and President Tsai Ing-wen Tuesday bilateral talks aimed at exploring possible cooperation on tackling climate change and other challenges.
The discussions touched on the international situation and issues of mutual concern, including climate change and the youth economy, according to Tsai, who hosted a military salute to welcome Pierre and his delegation ahead of the bilateral meeting.
Pierre, who arrived in Taiwan on Monday for a five-day visit, said the effect of pandemics and climate change has encouraged nations to re-examine their paths and seek new solutions.
He described climate change as a shared crisis that threatens the survival of both St. Lucia and Taiwan and called for cooperation between the two nations to address the situation.
“We must cooperate to advance the cause for loss and damage agreements to be honored by those primarily responsible,” he added without elaborating.
Pierre also expressed gratitude to Taiwan’s government and people for “timely” humanitarian support when the Caribbean nation has faced such challenges as COVID-19 and natural disasters, saying Taiwan has been a true and dear friend to Saint Lucia amid global volatility and uncertainty.
“We are grateful for and look forward to your continued and even increased support for some of our national developmental ambitions, whether these be in areas of education, agriculture, youth economy, housing assistance, digital transformation, or crime management systems,” Pierre said.
He said St. Lucia, which is among a handful of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries with diplomatic relations with Taipei, will continue to “champion and support the meaningful participation of Taiwan in the organs and agencies of the United Nations and other international agencies.
“My country will continue to, at every opportunity, reaffirm its belief in respecting the territorial integrity of nations, and the observance of international rules on the peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tsai said she looks forward to seeing Taiwan and St. Lucia further “strengthen exchanges and cooperation across all domains,” adding that the two countries should jointly seize opportunities amid the global economic recovery.
“I firmly believe that Taiwan and Saint Lucia will continue to deepen our partnership in the spirit of mutual assistance,” Tsai said.
During the five-day visit, Prime Minister Pierre is also scheduled to meet with Premier Su Tseng-chang and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu separately, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The delegation will also travel to Kaohsiung, where they will visit the Kaohsiung City Government and the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, MOFA said.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) and St. Lucia first established diplomatic relations in 1984, but ties were severed in 1997 when the Caribbean country switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
In April 2007, the two countries re-established diplomatic relations, and China has been calling on countries to honor its One China policy while describing Taiwan as a renegade province.
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