Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has reaffirmed
\nthis country\u2019s commitment to the Government and People of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
\nDelivering remarks at a reception ceremony to celebrate Taiwan\u2019s 112 th \u00a0National Day on
\nMonday, 9 th October, held at the Kingstown Baptist Church, Dr. Gonsalves
\nextended\u00a0congratulations\u00a0to Taiwan on its 112 th \u00a0birthday. Gonsalves said he has been to every
\nTaiwan National Day celebration in SVG, in the 21 st \u00a0century, and has never seen such a turnout,
\nof some 200 guests in attendance, as he saw on Monday night.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister pointed out that the relationship between SVG and the Republic of China
\nTaiwan is a strategic relationship of real solidarity and friendship. \u201cThis is not a transactional
\nrelationship\u2026this is something for all time\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
Noting that the political party in opposition here in SVG said they would dismantle the 42 years
\nrelationship between SVG and Taiwan, and establish diplomatic relations with the People\u2019s
\nRepublic of China, Dr. Gonsalves said; \u201cI\u2019m calling on those who have abandoned this
\nrelationship [with Taiwan] to come back to the fold\u201d.<\/p>\n
Gonsalves pointed out that in a strategic partnership there has to be fundamental loyalty.\u00a0\u201cThis
\nloyalty is demonstrated in real life and living, since the founding father of this nation established
\ndiplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) this relationship has gone on from
\nstrength to strength".<\/p>\n
PM Gonsalves said Taiwan has moved from a backward developing status to one of the top
\neconomies in the world, adding that \u201cthey are an example to us.\u201d He noted that \u201cthey like us, are
\nseeking to build democratic societies internally\u201d, and \u201cwe have to learn from this ancient
\ncivilization.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister accepted that \u201c\u2026there is a one China civilization, not a one China policy, a
\none China civilization. And we hold the view that any great civilization including the
\nmagnificent Chinese civilization can possess more than one legitimate political expression
\nTHE AGENCY FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION
\nP.O Box 608, Kingstown, St Vincent and The Grenadines
\nTel: (784) 456-1600, Fax (784) 456-2430
\nEmail: apisvg2023@gmail.com<\/p>\n
organized as a state.\u201d He pointed out that SVG works with the People\u2019s Republic of China on the
\ninternational front but China will not allow SVG to abandon Taiwan, \u201ca nation in which we are
\nwell pleased\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we need most of all and what we are working for all the time at the United Nations and
\nelsewhere is for peace across the Taiwan straits\u201d, Dr. Gonsalves said.<\/p>\n
Since 1981, Taiwan and SVG have collaborated in a number of areas including education,
\ninfrastructural development, social development, agriculture, health and security, among others.<\/p>\n
PM Gonsalves further pointed out that Taiwan has made extraordinary contributions to the
\nArgyle International Airport (AIA). \u201cWhen you land there, remember Taiwan because they made
\na critical contribution to the construction of\u00a0the AIA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout the AIA, we would not have the expansion of tourism we are having and when you get
\na job at Sandals, know that one of the reasons why you have that job is because of the AIA and
\nbecause we have Taiwan supporting us\u201d, the Prime Minister said.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister also commented on Taiwan\u2019s contribution to the Rabacca Bridge. \u201cWhen
\nyour property across the [Rabacca] river increases in value, remember Taiwan because the banks
\nhardly wanted to give anybody mortgages to build houses or mortgages with severe restraints
\nand conditions, but now, they treat the property over there like anywhere in SVG because of the
\nRabacca Bridge\u201d, Dr. Gonsalves said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has reaffirmed this country\u2019s commitment to the Government and People of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Delivering remarks at a reception ceremony to celebrate Taiwan\u2019s 112 th \u00a0National Day on Monday, 9 th October, held at the Kingstown Baptist Church, Dr. Gonsalves extended\u00a0congratulations\u00a0to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":35673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-breaking-news","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n