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Contact:
Ryan O’Brian
Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - The relationship between St. Lucia and China
is set to expand with the formal launching of the St. Lucia-China Friendship
Association which took place at the Conference Room of the National Insurance
Corporation on Friday, November 5, 2004.
Vice President of the Association, Minister for Labour Relations, Public Service
and Co-operatives, Hon. Velon John gave some background on the formation of the
Association.
“In our opinion”, Minister John said, “this is a milestone in our relationship
with China, a relationship that began when this government, in its wisdom, and a
sense of perspicacity, decided to establish diplomatic relations with the
People’s Republic of China in 1997, and by so doing, recognising the historical
fact that there is one China, and Taiwan is indeed an integral part of China.
But diplomatic relations has its limitations and possibilities, and it was our
awareness of that in some measure, that prompted us to establish a
non-governmental nexus that will transcend these limitations, expand these
possibilities and sublimate the relationship between the people of the two
countries.”
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to St. Lucia, His Excellency Gu
Huamin was proud of the initiative to launch such an organisation, and said it
would reinforce friendship between the two nations.
“The major aim of the Association is to promote friendly and constructive
relations with the People’s Republic of China and their non governmental
organisations, to facilitate culture and other exchanges that would reinforce
the links of friendship between the two countries and facilitate, augment and
enhance non-governmental diplomacy between China and St. Lucia,” Ambassador Gu
said.
At the end of his address Ambassador Gu presented an initial cheque donation of
EC$3,000.00 to the newly formed association to assist in its establishment.
President of the Association and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Earl
Bousquet used the occasion to launch a publication entitled “Ten Days Behind the
Great Wall,” which is a compilation of articles he wrote while leading a team of
21 regional journalists on a tour of China earlier this year.
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