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KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan, June 25, 2024 (SKNIS): In a historic move to strengthen ties and promote cooperation, the City of Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis and the City of Kaohsiung in the Republic of China (Taiwan) have signed a sister city agreement. The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in the vibrant and technologically advanced city of Kaohsiung.
The sister city agreement aims to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields such as culture, education, business, healthcare and technology. By leveraging the strengths of each city, the partnership aims to promote economic growth, cultural exchange and innovative development.
Mayor Chen said: “This sister city relationship is an important milestone in our shared growth and development. It demonstrates our commitment to fostering closer connections and cooperation in all areas. We look forward to a future where our cities can prosper together, benefiting from each other’s strengths and innovations.”
The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Dr. Terence Drew, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“This agreement, with its specially designed cooperation agenda, reflects our commitment to mutually beneficial and targeted exchanges. It covers a wide range of areas, including smart city development, a cornerstone of our sustainable development plan, as well as healthcare, agriculture and tourism,” Dr. Drew said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of the agreement in achieving St. Kitts and Nevis’ vision of becoming a sustainable island nation by 2040. He mentioned that the country has five doctors trained in Kaohsiung and with their new knowledge and skills, as well as the benefits of this collaboration, the country is on track to achieve its goals. In addition, he noted that several students are currently pursuing higher education and training in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and tourism in Kaohsiung and in neighboring Pingtung and Tainan.
The agreement also includes initiatives to improve healthcare in Basseterre by partnering with leading medical institutions in Kaohsiung. Dr. Drew highlighted the potential impact, noting that Kaohsiung Veterans Hospital has formed the Kaohsiung Joint Learning Smart Healthcare Alliance with three other major medical centers. He said Basseterre’s Joseph N. France General Hospital will directly benefit from the collective training and AI models developed by this groundbreaking healthcare initiative.
Vice Foreign Minister Chen Shui-bian also expressed support for the agreement.
“The establishment of a sister city relationship between the two cities symbolizes our unwavering commitment to deepening people-to-people ties and will further strengthen the friendship between Taiwan and Saint Christopher and Nevis. I am confident that this sister city relationship will flourish in the years to come,” said Vice Minister Chen.
The ceremony was attended by key diplomatic figures including the Ambassador of St. Kitts and Nevis to the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Donia Francis. He stressed that such alliances are vital to promoting economic interests, raising cultural awareness and strengthening diplomatic relations. He said the Sister Cities Agreement is an important milestone in the relationship between Basseterre and Kaohsiung, paving the way for a future of co-development, innovation and shared prosperity.
Nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis living and studying in Kaohsiung were also present to witness this important moment.
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