President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, last Friday, received in audience Mr Francisco HL Ou, the Taiwanese Foreign Affairs Minister who was in the country on a three-day working visit.

Accompanied by a high powered delegation comprising his Gambian counterpart, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, the Taiwanese Chief diplomat's visit was meant to exchange views with the Gambian leader on how Taiwan could further strengthen the bond of fruitful bilateral relationship with The Gambia.

On interaction with his high profile visitor, President Jammeh described Taiwan as his source of developmental inspiration, noting that the people of Taiwan were very determined to the cause of their national development endeavours; something he believed was responsible for their admirable, continuous and rapid development. He further pointed out that one could hardly see a land in Taiwan that was not being utilized, describing Taiwanese citizens as very industrious.

Speaking to a group of reporters shortly after his audience with the Gambian leader, the Taiwanese Foreign Affairs Minister, who apparently started his first official visit to Africa in The Gambia, told newsmen that the bond of bilateral relationship between the two countries had been very successful over the years. He observed that remarkable achievements were registered in key cooperation areas such as education, health and agriculture.

According to the Taiwanese Chief diplomat, his country is ready to transfer their wealth of experience and technical know-how acquired in to various cooperation sectors in The Gambia. He expressed hope that his visit would go a long way in promoting the continuous socio-economic development of the country.

Foreign Minister Ou told reporters that his country had been working hard to achieve participation in the international system, stressing that their exclusion from the United Nations system for years was very unfair.

In this regard, he went on, the government and people of Taiwan are very grateful for the continuous and strong support that the government of The Gambia had been given to them.