Premier Su Tseng-chang received St. Lucia's new ambassador to Taiwan Robert Kennedy Lewis at the Executive Yuan on Thursday. Taiwan and St. Lucia are longtime diplomatic allies, the premier said, and have been working closely in education, economic development, and the well-being of citizens. Our two countries enjoy a brotherly kinship based on our shared regard for universal values such as democracy and freedom and our common desire for world peace and mutual assistance.
Premier Su said the Taiwanese people have been touched by the many times St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre called for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international affairs at global forums such as the United Nations General Assembly, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference and the World Health Assembly. The premier expressed his sincere gratitude for how St. Lucia has spoken out for justice and directed international attention toward China's unreasonable and oppressive conduct toward Taiwan.
The premier noted that Ambassador Lewis has worked in the education field for over 30 years and is a learned scholar who has made outstanding contributions toward fostering new talent. The premier believes the ambassador's stay in Taiwan will help him gain a deeper understanding of how the Taiwanese people also place great value upon education, and hopes our nations can together make further progress in cultivating talent.
When Taiwan and St. Lucia resumed diplomatic relations in April 2007, Premier Su said, he was serving in his first stint as premier of Taiwan. That September, he traveled to St. Lucia as a special envoy of Taiwan to attend the state funeral of Prime Minister Sir John George Melvin Compton, and to commemorate Sir Compton's contributions to bilateral relations. During that trip, Premier Su was impressed by the beauty of the Caribbean nation and the warmth of its people.
Ambassador Lewis, in his remarks, said that he brings assurances from Prime Minister Pierre to the people and government of Taiwan that St. Lucia will continue to speak up for Taiwan in the international community. The Caribbean ally will tell anybody who chooses to diminish the role of the people of Taiwan, that "only the people of Taiwan can make these decisions about how they want to be governed." The ambassador also said St. Lucia is very pleased as a small country to be able to stand with Taiwan.
Taiwan is the biggest donor of education scholarships to St. Lucia, Ambassador Lewis pointed out. He thanked Taiwan for its longstanding support that has allowed St. Lucian students to study in Taiwan. Having served as minister of education of his country, he understands the power of education, and that it is a very important gift that once given cannot be taken away. Therefore anyone who helps educate the people of St. Lucia is a friend of St. Lucia, he said.