St. Kitts and Nevis satisfied with relationship with Taiwan, open for business with China

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) and President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Ma Ying-jeou (Photo by Erasmus Williams)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 16TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis is satisfied with its relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and there are no plans to make direct contact with mainland China.

“I don’t think that it really matters much as to whether it is mainland China or it is Taiwan. The fact is that we have been having very, very, close relationships with Taiwan, the Republic of China (Taiwan). We are satisfied with the relationship that we have. We believe that there are mutual benefits,” said Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Denzil L. Douglas.

Responding to a caller on his weekly “Ask the Prime Minister” radio programme on Tuesday, Dr. Douglas said even though China is an emerging economy and has great potential, “we believe that we can benefit from whatever China has to offer through our relationship with Taiwan.”

“I do not see at any time in the near future, I do not contemplate , hat is under my watch and this Government that we are leading, that we would want to make any direct contact with China politically,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He pointed out however that St. Kitts and Nevis like China are members of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“We have had Chinese nationals in our country being engaged in construction activities. We have Chinese investors who are in St Kitts and Nevis. We have no problem with that, and so we would continue as much as possible to make it possible for Chinese investments or Taiwanese investments to grow and develop St Kitts and Nevis,” said Prime Minister.

“However in terms of our political relationship, we are satisfied with the political relationship that we have with Taiwan. I don’t believe that the Chinese Government is dissatisfied as well with our relationship with Taiwan. It is a long established relationship and that shall continue,” said Dr. Douglas, adding: “However we are open to business and just as Taiwan is having close business relationship with China, so too St. Kitts and Nevis is open to have close business relationship with China as several other Caribbean countries in the region.”