St. Vincent to open embassy in Taiwan: MOFA

Taipei, July 18 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed Thursday that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is scheduled to visit the country in August to open the Caribbean country's embassy in Taiwan.

Details of the upcoming trip were not forthcoming, however, according to anonymous MOFA sources.

The comments confirmed a St. Vincent news outlet report last week that quoted Gonsalves as saying that the Caribbean ally will soon open an embassy in Taipei.

Retired educator Andrea Bowman reportedly has been appointed as St. Vincent and the Grenadines' first ambassador to Taiwan. But sources said Taiwan's foreign ministry has not received the official notice yet.

Vivia Chang (張俊菲), deputy head of MOFA's Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, told reporters Thursday that the Caribbean ally's parliament has already passed related budget for the embassy's opening and operation.

The facility is expected to be located in the diplomatic quarter in suburban Tienmu, where the embassies of most of the country other's diplomatic allies are located, Chang said.

She said that the ministry is offering all necessary assistance for the opening of the new embassy.

MOFA had previously said it welcomes St. Vincent's decision, saying that the move is expected to create more opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Taiwan has had diplomatic relations with St. Vincent and the Grenadines since 1981.

The country is currently the only ally among the 17 countries with formal ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) that does not have an embassy in Taiwan.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) left St. Vincent Wednesday following a one-day visit as part of her ongoing 12-day-state-visit to four Caribbean allies that also took her to Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia.