Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hosts Luncheon for Belize Minister of Education, Hopes to Deepen Partnership

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Belize Minister of Education Dian Maheia and University of Belize President Vincent Palacio, along with a four-person delegation, are visiting Taiwan from April 12 to 16. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi, representing Minister Joseph Wu, hosted a luncheon on April 13 to welcome the delegation, expressing the government's sincere welcome. Chen Ming-chi stated that this is Maheia's second visit to Taiwan. Taiwan and Belize have maintained diplomatic relations for 36 years, continuously deepening cooperation in various fields based on shared values and mutual benefit, with education being a crucial pillar of bilateral relations. Both governments have jointly assisted the University of Belize in establishing a regional language center and promoting various scholarship programs, with notable achievements. Chen Ming-chi emphasized that higher education is critical for fostering talent development and international connections, believing that this visit will help deepen educational and academic cooperation, expand exchange opportunities, and further enhance the partnership. Maheia remarked that Taiwan and Belize share a deep bond like family and expressed honor in visiting again. She hopes that through this visit, which includes meetings with the Ministry of Education and visits to universities and hospitals, she will gain a better understanding of Taiwan's higher education policies and practices. Through interactions, she aims to create new milestones for bilateral educational cooperation and development. Maheia previously accompanied Belize Prime Minister John Briceño to Taiwan in May 2024 to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. During this second visit, she will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, the Ministry of Education, and the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance. The delegation will also visit National Chung Hsing University, Da-Yeh University, Meiho University of Science and Technology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, and I-Shou University College of Medicine. They will also host a Taiwan-Belize Education Exchange Forum with the Belize Embassy in Taiwan and representatives from 10 universities to extensively exchange views on Taiwan-Belize educational cooperation and academic issues.