After welcoming the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Godwin Friday and his wife with military salutes and having a bilateral meeting, President Lai Chengde and Vice President Xiao Meiqin hosted a state banquet for the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Godwin Friday and his wife at the Presidential Palace this evening (11th). The President thanked Prime Minister Fred for his strong support of Taiwan's international participation, and looked forward to the two countries walking side by side in the international arena and working together to make more contributions to global peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

In his speech, the President said that tonight's state banquet is not only a welcome to good friends from afar, but also an important moment to celebrate the 45 years of profound friendship between Taiwan and Saint Petersburg. The President also congratulated Prime Minister Fried. Since taking office in November last year, he has not only brought new atmosphere and new development to Saint Vincent, but also actively promoted regional cooperation and served as the rotating chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, demonstrating Saint Vincent's important influence in the Caribbean region.

The president said that Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines share the value of democracy and freedom, and both understand that the significance of a country's existence does not lie in its size, but in its persistence in beliefs, care for its people, and its contribution and responsibility to the international community. Just like the motto "Peace and Justice" written on the ribbon of the national emblem of the Kingdom of St. Vincent, this is not only the belief and persistence of the Kingdom of St. Vincent, but also the most important conceptual basis for Taiwan's participation in the international community and its interactions with other countries.

The president emphasized that Taiwan has the ability and willingness to participate in international organizations and various international activities to jointly respond to various global challenges. He would like to thank Prime Minister Fried again for his strong support of Taiwan's international participation, and he also looks forward to continued support in the future, so that Taiwan and St. Vincent can walk side by side in the international arena, join hands with countries around the world, and make more contributions to global peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

Finally, the President invited the guests to enjoy tonight's state banquet and wished the Taiwan-St.

In his speech, Prime Minister Fried once again expressed his gratitude for the warm and hospitable reception the visiting delegation received, and pointed out that there are many ways for a country to welcome visitors. Diplomatic etiquette can make a visit appear formal, but only "people" can make a visit unique and make them feel at home from the moment they arrive. I am glad that Taiwan and St. Vincent are solid allies of each other and share highly compatible common goals.

Prime Minister Fried mentioned that a few months ago he went to the Orange Mountain Agricultural Biotechnology Center in St. Vincent to participate in the launch ceremony of the "Agricultural Productivity Recovery and Young Farmer Training Program." During the visit, he saw different farming methods. Various crops grew and thrived in an environmental control system, and technology was used to help regulate water sources and growing conditions. He witnessed firsthand how modern technology is applied to the ancient and important work of growing food. This project connects Taiwan's technical group and the Ministry of Agriculture of St. Vincent to use modern methods to increase production capacity, train a new generation of farmers, and allow knowledge from Taiwan to take root in St. Vincent's soil. One of the most valuable things that countries can share is knowledge, and this visit also hopes to further understand the innovation and creativity displayed by the Taiwanese people in various fields.

Prime Minister Fried pointed out that Taiwan has actively shared knowledge and expertise with St. Vincent for the past 45 years, which is undoubtedly one of the most important indicators of the friendship between the two countries. Another aspect of relationships is helping each other in difficult times. St. Vincent has received generous assistance from Taiwan. When Taiwan suffered a strong earthquake in April 2024, St. Vincent also did its best to provide humanitarian assistance. This is what friendship is all about, standing up for your friends when they need you.

Prime Minister Fried said that he believed that there is still room for the people of the two countries to further understand each other. Taipei City and Jinshi City will become sister cities on May 21, 2024, to promote exchanges between the two parties in the fields of education, sightseeing, culture, tourism and business. The capitals of the two countries are like sisters. Although they have different styles, they have a very close relationship with each other. This was also his profound experience during his visit to Taiwan.

Finally, Prime Minister Fried expressed his hope that Taiwan and St. Vincent will continue to deepen ties in various fields, and sincerely invited President Lai to have the opportunity to visit St. Vincent, visit the local islands, get to know the people, and experience culture, music and food. The geographical distance can never weaken the deep connection between the two peoples, and the two countries can continue to explore more innovative ways of cooperation.

The State Banquet was also attended by Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Pan Mengan, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu, Foreign Minister Lin Jialong, Chinese Ambassador to the Holy Kingdom Fan Huijun, Holy Kingdom Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Investment and Overseas Chinese Affairs Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, Attorney General Sarah Louise Mitchell and Holy Kingdom Ambassador to Taiwan Kenton X. Chance.