Ambassador Andrea Bowman (center) and Counsellor Ms. Shebby-Ann Dennie (third from left) visit New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (third from right), accompanied by Siku Yaway (Commissioner of the Indigenous Peoples Department, from right), Lee Ching-an (Commissioner of the Fire Department), Yao Ching-yu (Director-general of the Secretariat), and Chu I-Chun (Deputy Director-general of the Environmental Protection Department).

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.

 
Mayor Hou Yu-ih (right) presents a transcription disk of a bird species unique to Taiwan to Ambassador Bowman.

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.
 

Ambassador Bowman gifts two books to Mayor Hou, one being the latest work of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, discussing the country's responses to the pandemic and natural disasters (left), and another on indigenous culture.

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.