Yesterday afternoon (28th), New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih met with Ambassador Andrea Bowman from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a diplomatic ally, at the city hall. The two discussed topics including bilateral friendship, city diplomacy, indigenous cultures, disaster prevention, and sustainability.

The Republic of China has maintained diplomatic relations with St. Vincent and the Grenadines for 43 years. Last week, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, attended the presidential inauguration ceremony in Taiwan. Ambassador Bowman brought the Mayor the Prime Minister’s latest publication yesterday, which documents the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and volcanic eruptions on St. Vincent and the government’s response and recovery measures. Mayor Hou noted that both St. Vincent and Taiwan, being island nations, face severe challenges from climatic changes like typhoons and flooding. He expressed a hope for deeper cooperation and exchange in urban disaster prevention between New Taipei and St. Vincent and thanked the ambassador for St. Vincent’s long-standing support for Taiwan in the international community.

Ambassador Bowman has been stationed in Taiwan for nearly five years and currently serves as the head of the diplomatic mission. She has participated in several New Taipei events such as the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and the Orange Light Corridor at Christmasland. Last month, she also gave a lecture at Nanshan High School in Zhonghe. Additionally, the Ambassador mentioned frequent visits to Tamsui. Mayor Hou introduced her to New Taipei’s attractions and invited her to visit Wulai to experience the indigenous culture and arts of the Atayal people.

The meeting was also attended by Lee Ching-an, Commissioner of the Fire Department; Yao Chingyu, Director-general of the Secretariat; Siku Yaway, Commissioner of the Indigenous Peoples Department; and Chu I-Chun, Deputy Director-general of the Environmental Protection Department.