Prime Minister of Belize JOHN BRICEÑO REMARKS TO JOINT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

State Visit

April 3, 2023

Madam Speaker, Madam President of the Senate, Members of the House and Senate, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning,

It is truly my pleasure and honour on behalf of all Belizeans to welcome you, our dear friend, President Tsai Ing-wen, to the National Assembly, which is our people’s house. As we say in Spanish, mi casa es su casa, or in this case nuestra casa es tambien su casa -- our house is your house. At our last meeting, we approved the Resolution to Support Democratic Taiwan Motion, 2023, which called for our commitment to the strong and healthy diplomatic bond between Belize and Taiwan and the close bilateral cooperation in multiple areas.

Madam President for Belizeans this is a historic home. It was from the very steps you ascended that the Father of our Nation, George Price said on Independence Day in 1981 and I quote: “Belize is a people with all the attributes of nationhood having one flag, one government, one Constitution. Our mind imbues the democratic process. Our hand works the mixed economy. Our heart beats with social justice and our soul cherishes treasures of the spirit.”

Mr. Price also said on that historic day that “Belize will stand upright and will do its duty to help bring peace, stability, and prosperity to our region and the wider circles of our planet Earth.”

As a nation, we have lived by these principles, and we know you and the Taiwanese people believe and live these principles too. For the past 33 years, Belize and Taiwan have worked to improve the world and make it a better place to live.

Together we have worked for the advancement of democracy at home and abroad because our people, Belizean and Taiwanese, desire to live in peace with our neighbours near and far. We also share a deep appreciation for social, economic, and environmental justice and for this reason, no force or ocean will keep us from working together for the advancement of these just objectives. Taiwan and Belize are united in our desire to leave, for the next generation, a better world than the one we presently live in.

I know this because last October on Taiwan’s National Day, President Tsai told the Taiwanese people and I quote “the greatest duty for all of us living on this land is to do everything we can to give the next generation a better country, and to give the world a better Taiwan.” End of quote.

All the evidence shows that the Taiwanese people are benefiting from a strong and growing Taiwanese economy, an expanded social safety net, and greater opportunities for the marginalized people of Taiwan. The evidence shows that you are a nation of people who respect the rule of law and desire to live in peace on a cleaner and greener planet.

We have also seen that the Government and people of Taiwan have not just kept their prosperity for themselves, in fact, they have shared this prosperity with others, including us here in Belize. At present we enjoy strong and growing trade relations. Taiwan’s humanitarian and economic assistance has assisted in the advancement of our development agenda and Taiwan continues to invest in our future. Today, hundreds of Belizean students are in Taiwan studying and receiving a first-class tertiary and professional education. Among these are many talented young Belizean women who will surely return to Belize with a renewed and enriched spirit, believing that women should and can become maximum leaders of their country.

Your visit, Madam President, comes on the heels of the celebration of international women’s month highlighting the potential of women in leadership roles. As you have shared with us, so too you have shared with other nations. This is why we so desire to have Taiwan represented in world organisations like the United Nations, not only because the 23 million people who live in Taiwan deserve to be represented, but also so that together we can promote our shared values like democracy, the right of people’s to self-determination and respect for international law. Together, we can be a force in the fight against climate change, against all forms of inequality and discrimination, and promote greater peace and security. This is a historic day because you Madam President have crossed oceans to come to our shore to celebrate these values, strengthen this partnership, and reaffirm our commitment to prosperity for our people. For this Belize welcomes you into our home with open arms.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to invite Her Excellency the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, to address us.

It is so wonderful to be in Belmopan again. I cannot believe it's been five years since we last saw one another. This is too long, in my opinion.

I want to begin my talk by thanking Prime Minister Briceño, Speaker Valerie Woods of the House of Representatives, and President Trench-Sandiford of the Senate for inviting me to speak at your National Assembly.

I have very fond memories of my last trip to Belize. I visited Taiwan Street, where our embassy stands. I also remember meeting aspiring young Belizeans, and was very happy to offer scholarships for their studies in Taiwan. I remember thinking, these bright minds would eventually serve as bridges for our friendship in our shared future. I also remember visiting the Museum of Belize, seeing the drawings of slave ships and hearing dreadful stories of the slave trade.

What our two countries share, is the strength and courage to rise from our challenging past, and make our present and future free, bright, and prosperous.

Therefore, I must tell you again, I am delighted to be back in your beautiful country.

I would really have loved to come to Belize earlier, however, most of us were grounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as we work diligently to move toward the post-pandemic era, more challenges await us. For example, climate change, economic downturn, inflation, and most challenging of all, expansionist threats from authoritarian regimes.

The people of Taiwan face constant threats and pressure from the neighbor on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. While Taiwan's relationships with democracies around the world have grown stronger in recent years, we continue to be excluded from participating in international organizations, and serving as a productive member of the international community.

From international forums to meetings held by international organizations, such as the United Nations, WHO, ICAO, and under the UNFCCC, Belize has helped give voice to the 23 million people of Taiwan. I want to say thank you.

Not only that, Belize continues to be Taiwan's strongest and most powerful advocate for our international participation.

Moreover, last May, in this very chamber, your National Assembly members unanimously passed a motion to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations. And, a motion supporting democratic Taiwan was also passed a few days ago.

On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the government of Belize, and all the members of the House and the Senate. Your unwavering friendship and support mean so much to us.

Belize has accomplished quite a lot over its history. And as a grateful friend, Taiwan is honored to play a role in assisting Belize's national development, through projects on infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, disaster management and prevention, information and communications technology, and education.

In fact, I am very pleased to note that, over the past two years, Taiwan and Belize have been able to step up our bilateral cooperation to help make everyday life here even more convenient.

For example, road upgrades will connect people from one region to another. We are also working together to bring clean water to rural areas. More importantly, in order to better the learning environment for Belize's next generation, we are supporting programs to provide nutritious food and internet access to schools.

In addition, an upgrade to provide more comprehensive healthcare facil-