Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), and Taiwan’s capital, Taipei have signed a joint statement establishing a sister-city relationship.
The statement was signed on Monday, in Taipei, after discussions between Prime Minister of SVG, Ralph Gonsalves and Taipei Mayor Wayne Chiang.
SVG Ambassador to Taiwan Andrea Bowman signed on behalf of SVG with Parliamentary Secretary Senator Shackell Bobb signed as a witness at the event, which Gonsalves also attended.
Chiang spoke of his pleasure at signing the joint statement and announced that there would be scholarships on offer for Vincentians to learn Mandarin in Taipei immediately.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingstown did not give details about the terms and duration of the scholarships.
However, Taiwan News reported that Chiang announced that Taipei would offer annual scholarships for students from its sister cities to learn Mandarin.
Chiang said two spots have already been reserved for students from Kingstown, marking the first educational cooperation project after the agreement.
Meanwhile, Gonsalves expressed contentment with the occasion and invited residents of Taipei to visit SVG to consolidate further the relations between Taiwan and SVG.
“The establishing of Sister-City Relationship between Taipei City and Kingstown will focus on specific areas of cooperation for mutual benefit, in education, cultural exchange, economic development and financial cooperation, tourism promotion, among others,” the statement said.
The Taiwan Embassy in Kingstown said Gonsalves presented Chiang with a painting, inviting him and City Council Speaker Tai Hsi-chin to visit SVG to promote bilateral exchanges.
Gonsalves and a delegation from SVG is in Taiwan for the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, which took place in Taipei on Monday.
Castries, St Lucia did this since 2018.