Friendship Lantern Lights Up Taiwan Lantern Festival, Taiwan Foreign Minister: Enduring Friendship

Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, alongside ambassadors from three allied countries, led the opening ceremony of the “2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival” featuring themed lanterns from both countries. Minister Wu remarked that despite the continuous rain on the opening night of the festival, it symbolized a good omen of Taiwan’s enduring friendship with allied nations, where friendship flourishes in times of need.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China released a press statement highlighting Minister Wu’s participation in the lighting ceremony of the themed lanterns of Belize and St. Kitts and Nevis Federations at the “2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taoyuan.” The event aimed to showcase the strong friendship between Taiwan and the two nations and celebrate the Lantern Festival together.

Minister Wu expressed his gratitude during his speech at the lighting ceremony for Belize, thanking Ambassador Candice Pitts of Belize and Mayor Cheng Shan-cheng of Taoyuan City for their efforts in strengthening the ties between the two cities of Taiwan and Belize. He emphasized the longstanding friendship between Taiwan and Belize, witnessed during his fourth visit to Belize in October 2024, and expressed hopes for continued collaboration in various fields between the two nations.

Ambassador Pitts noted that this was the third participation of the Belize Embassy in the Taiwan Lantern Festival, showcasing the theme “Proud of History, Moving Forward,” signifying their continued presence on the international stage. She underscored the solid 36-year friendship between Taiwan and Belize and extended an invitation for Taiwanese people to visit Belize to witness the beauty of famous landmarks like the Great Blue Hole.

During the lighting ceremony for the St. Kitts and Nevis Federation, Minister Wu highlighted the countries’ longstanding support for Taiwan on the global stage, emphasizing their robust alliance in education, agriculture, healthcare, and women’s empowerment. The lantern festival for St. Kitts and Nevis in Taoyuan not only illuminated the night sky but also symbolized the hopeful bond between Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis. Minister Wu shared his personal experiences promoting the scenic beauty, infectious music, and rich cultural heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis, encouraging more Taiwanese people to visit and experience the country firsthand.

Ambassador Donya Francis of St. Kitts and Nevis expressed in her speech that this year’s lantern designs combined African and European elements, showcasing the cultural heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis. She praised the successful promotion of this international exchange platform by the Republic of China’s government and hoped for future opportunities to see Taiwanese lanterns displayed in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Minister Wu took to Facebook to express that despite the continuous rain on the opening night of the lantern festival, it was one of the most memorable Taiwan Lantern Festivals he had attended. He mentioned the Taiwanese saying “unleashing potential in adversity,” viewing the abundant rainfall as a sign of Taiwan’s enduring friendship with allied nations.

Moreover, Minister Wu highlighted the innovative and collaborative lantern artworks seen annually at the Taiwan Lantern Festival, especially this year in Taoyuan, a gateway for Taiwan’s international engagement. The festival featured a “Global Lantern Exchange” area showcasing lanterns from allied countries and unique creations from various regions of Japan, symbolizing global friendship and connections.

Furthermore, Minister Wu mentioned the twinning agreement between Taoyuan City and Orange Walk Town in Belize, inviting Mayor Cheng Shan-cheng and Mayor Ladrick Sheppard of Orange Walk Town to jointly light the lanterns, symbolizing strengthened city-to-city exchanges.

Minister Wu emphasized that the lanterns displayed by Belize showcased the country’s precious natural landscapes and historical heritage, while St. Kitts and Nevis invited lantern artist Wong Wen-quan to create the “Vibrant Folklore” lantern, representing the diverse cultural influences developed by the nation under European colonialism.

The “2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taoyuan” will run until February 23rd, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely inviting the public to appreciate the themed lanterns from Belize and St. Kitts and Nevis, experiencing diverse cultural elements from around the world.