Jul 11, 2007

Taiwan: Foreign Minister Visits The Gambia


The Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a visit to The Gambia as the special envoy of the President, inviting the Gambian President to attend the Taiwan-Africa Summit scheduled for September 2007.

The Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a visit to The Gambia as the special envoy of the President, inviting the Gambian President to attend the Taiwan-Africa Summit scheduled for September 2007.

Below is an article written by Ebrima Jaw Manneh (for the Daily Observer) and published by AllAfrica.com:

Taiwanese Foreign Minister, James CF Huang, yesterday [8 July 2007] arrived in Banjul as the special envoy of President Chen of Taiwan.

Minister Huang was received at the foot of the aircraft by Chrispin Grey-Johnson, Secretary of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology, Ismaila Sambou, Secretary of State for Local Government and Lands, Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba, Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, other senior government officials, and the Taiwanese Ambassador Dr Patrick Chang joined SoS Grey-Johnson, who is overseeing the Foreign Affairs Department, in receiving Minister Huang.

Minister Huang accompanied by a 15 member delegation was later accompanied by the Gambian dignitaries and Ambassador Patrick Chang to meet members of the Taiwanese community and the Tawanese Technical Mission (TTM) in The Gambia.

Speaking to journalists at the VIP Building of the Banjul International Airport, Minister Huang expressed his delight with his second visit to The Gambia as a special envoy to deliver President Chen's invitation to President Jammeh to attend the Taiwan-Africa Summit slated for September [2007]. He said Taipei is looking forward to President Jammeh to make the September Summit a success, after successfully hosting the AU Banjul Summit in June/July in 2006.

Mr Huang disclosed that he considers The Gambia his second home, saying "I am overwhelmed to be in The Gambia for the second time". He told journalists that the agenda of the summit focuses on peace, prosperity and stability in Africa, as well as sustainable development.

As we went to press last night, Minister Huang and his delegation were hosted to a dinner at the Coconut Residence in Senegambia, by SoS Grey-Johnson on behalf of the Gambian Government.