Prime Minister Douglas on State Visit to the R.O.C.

A new five-year Social and Economic Development Programme between St. Kitts & Nevis and the Republic of China on Taiwan is expected to be the major outcome of a one-week State Visit to Taipei by St. Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.The St. Kitts & Nevis leader left here on Sunday at the head of a five-man delegation and will be met on arrival at Taipei International Airport on Tuesday morning (Taiwan Time) by the Republic of China's Ambassador to St. Kitts & Nevis, Her Excellency Madame Marietta Liau.While in Taipei, Prime Minister Douglas will meet and hold bi-lateral talks with the President of the Republic of China, His Excellency Shui-bian Chen and Premier, the Hon. Shyi-kun Yu.Discussions are likely to center on a new five-year social and development programme. The present five-year programme ends this year.Prime Minister Douglas will also visit the Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, the Juming Sculpture Museum, the Suho Memorial Paper Museum, the Taipei Financial Center and the Taiwan Sugar Factory.St. Kitts & Nevis and the Republic of China celebrated 20 years of diplomatic relations last month.Since taking office in July 1995, there has been a deeper commitment and confidence in the steady and sustainable growth of bilateral relations between the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration and the Republic of China on Taiwan.A technical cooperation agreement between both countries covers fruit and vegetable projects, medical equipment improvement, a Small Farmholders Financing Scheme, Microcredit Project, a Scholarship Programme, Overseas Volunteers Programme and a Computer Literacy Programme.The ROC also provides US$100,000 annually to improve national education and workforce and has also assisted in financing the construction of several facilities including day care centers and community centers.Other members of the Prime Minister's delegation are Personal Assistant, Mrs. Cherylanne Pemberton; Director of Planning, Mrs. Hilary Hazel; Mr. Giles Dickenson of the St. Kitts & Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) and Security Officer, Mr. Patrick Browne.