《TAIPEI TIMES》 Lin visits Saint Vincent for Independence Day

/ Staff writer, with CNA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung （林佳龍） on Saturday began his three-day visit to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where he attended the Caribbean ally’s 45th Independence Day celebrations.

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on Saturday afternoon greeted Lin and his delegation at Argyle International Airport. Photographs posted by Lin on Facebook showed students waving Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national flags outside the airport terminal.

Lin also met with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Governor-General Susan Dougan at her residence, where he signed the guestbook and wrote “Everlasting Friendship,” referring to the countries’ diplomatic relations, Lin wrote on Facebook.

On Sunday, he attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a new acute care hospital at Arnos Vale, together with Gonsalves and Ambassador Fiona Fan （范惠君）.

Once completed, the medical facility would provide specialty services in cardiology, dialysis and urology, local media reports said.

The Taiwan-funded Overseas Engineering & Construction is responsible for the project, Lin said.

In addition to offering state-of-the-art medical service, the project would help create jobs in the country, he said, adding that Taiwan would continue to support long-term, substantive development for its allies.

Lin embarked on his first official trip to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies late on Wednesday last week and is to return on Saturday. He just concluded a trip to Guatemala. After visiting Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he is to visit Saint Lucia, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

In each country, Lin is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with leaders and high-ranking officials, and inspect the results of cooperative projects, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES