Saint Lucian prime minister in Taiwan for state visit

Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre arrived in Taiwan yesterday morning for a five- day state visit, during which he will meet with President William Lai (賴清德) and other officials to discuss bilateral issues.

Lai will host a military honors ceremony to welcome Pierre, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), adding the two sides will also engage in discussions on issues of mutual interest and prospects for future cooperation.

This is the Saint Lucian leader’s fourth visit to Taiwan since taking office in the summer of 2021, the MOFA said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, second right, presents visiting Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, second left, with a paper-cut portrait by a Taiwanese artist in Taipei yesterday.

Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Joining Pierre’s delegation are Saint Lucian Attorney General Leslie Mondesir, Senator Allison Jean, and Daryl Raymond, chairman of the Saint Lucia Development Bank.

While in Taiwan, the delegation will visit Cathay General Hospital and the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei and the TSMC Museum of Innovation in Hsinchu, MOFA said.

Saint Lucia is one of 12 states worldwide that recognize the Republic of China (ROC) -- Taiwan’s official name -- instead of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The two countries first established diplomatic relations in 1984, but ties were broken in 1997 when Saint Lucia switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

In April 2007, the ROC and Saint Lucia reestablished diplomatic relations, prompting the PRC to sever the formal ties it had with the Caribbean country.