Vincentian journalists to visit Central News Agency as tour of ally continues

TAIPEI, Taiwan:- Five Vincentian media workers will today — Tuesday — visit the Central News Agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan), as their one week visit to the country, part of Taiwan’s national day celebrations, continues.{{more}}

The visit is one of three broadcast sites the contingent, along with other media practitioners from a number Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, will tour.

The Vincentian delegation comprises Elson Crick, communication consultant in the office of the Prime Minister, St Clair “Jimmy” Prince and Zhinga Greaves of the Agency for Public Information (API), Abigail Haynes of the National Broadcasting Corporation, and Junior Jarvis, senior reporter at SEARCHLIGHT.

The media workers will also meet with Yu-ling Chang, vice president of Eastern Television, visit the Public Television Service, and would be guests of Secretary General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Gary Song-Huann Lin at a luncheon in their honour.

During their first official day of meetings yesterday – after their arrival on Sunday — the group met with officials from the Mainland Affairs Council, in a session chaired by Crick.

The guests were informed of Taiwan media’s relationship with the People’s Republic of (mainland) China.

Another session was held with officials from the Council for Economic Planning and Development, where officials mapped the steady growth and development of the island nation.

They spoke of the nation’s transformation from dependence on assistance from more developed countries, to being an agriculture, tourism and technological powerhouse in the region.

The session was followed by a courtesy call on Morgan Chao, deputy secretary general of the International Cooperation and Development Fund.

Yesterday’s activities was not all work, as the Vincentians toured Taipei 101, until recently the tallest building in the world, but which still has the Guinness World Record for the fastest elevators.

This visit was followed by a dinner with some of the Vincentian students in Taiwan.

The students journeyed from various campuses around the island, to interact and discuss issues of concern to Vincentians in both countries.

Peggy Carr, a Vincentian journalist residing in Taiwan, facilitated the dinner.

The official activities continue tomorrow with the journalists attending the National Day celebration ceremony, a meeting with Taiwan’s President Dr Ma Ying-jeou, and a National Day reception.

While here, the journalists will also visit Central Taiwan Science Park, Goodway Machine Corp, Changhua Christian Hospital, Wen Wu Temple, Sun Moon Lake and other cultural sites.

The team leaves Taiwan on Saturday.