Formal Ties with Two Major Cities in Taiwan will be Beneficial, says Ambassador Francis

Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan) (18 November 2025) — His Excellency Donya L. Francis, the Ambassador of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Republic of China (Taiwan), emphasized the importance of establishing sister-city agreements between Basseterre and Taiwanese cities.

“The sister-city partnerships will provide benefits to the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis by creating more opportunities for interaction. For example, the Taipei City government has already announced that it will offer two scholarships each year for citizens to come to Taipei to study Mandarin,” said Ambassador Francis.

The city of Basseterre has become a sister city to Taiwan’s current and past capital cities, Taipei and Tainan.

On Thursday November 13, His Excellency Ambassador Donya L. Francis, Ambassador of Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts) and Nevis to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Chiang Wan-an, Taipei City Mayor signed a sister city agreement to formalize the strong working relationship that the Excellencies have nurtured since Ambassador Francis was appointed in 2022.

“Over the years, our relationship has grown beyond common diplomacy into a genuine people-topeople connection,” said His Excellency Ambassador Donya L. Francis.

Ambassador Francis reflected on his years pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at Ming Chuan University and a Master of Science in Global Health and Development at Taipei Medical University. Studying for six years at universities located in Taipei makes Taipei his “second home”.

Taipei City’s donation of Youbikes to Saint Kitts and Nevis and partnerships with Taipei Veterans General Hospital, facilitated through the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan ICDF are shining examples of tangible acts of generosity from the people of Taipei.

The sister city agreement will further enhance collaboration in education, culture, tourism, business, healthcare and sustainable development.

Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Honourable Dr. Terrance M. Drew and Speaker of Taipei City Council Mr. Tai Hsi-Chin witnessed the signing at a ceremony held at the W Hotel in Taipei. On the following day, Friday November 14, at Tainan City Government’s Yonghua Civic Center, Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance M. Drew witnessed His Excellency Ambassador Donya L. Francis and Tainan City’s Mayor Mr. Huang Wei-che sign the Basseterre-Tainan sister city agreement.

Tainan City, once the capital of Taiwan, is the oldest and one of the most culturally rich cities in Taiwan. Basseterre, named by the French who made the island their first permanent settlement in the Caribbean, boasts a deep and remarkable history as well.

Tainan City is also the hometown of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim.

Prime Minister Drew was proud to record that numerous nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis are being nurtured into future leaders as they pursue studies in Tainan in fields such as mechanical engineering, preparing them to contribute substantially to the federation’s advancement.

Mayor Huang fervently affirms that signing this agreement adds a new chapter to the goodwill between Taiwan and Saint Kitts and Nevis, heralding more concrete exchanges between the two cities in urban governance, culture, education, and economic development.

These sister-city agreements between the city of Basseterre and the cities of Taipei and Tainan follow the June 25, 2024, Basseterre-Kaohsiung sister city agreement, signed by Prime Minister Terrance Drew and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-Mai.

The Embassy of Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts) and Nevis to the Republic of China (Taiwan) thanks all dignitaries and staff from Taipei and Tainan for facilitating the establishment of these agreements and for coordinating the auspicious signing ceremonies. Much gratitude is also extended to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as the Prime Minister’s Office, for their invaluable contribution to the establishment of these agreements.