H.E. Katherine Vanessa Meighan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belize to the Republic of China, visited Tamkang University on June 8 at the invitation of Associate Professor Chin-Mo Cheng of the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations' English-Taught Bachelor's Program. As part of the Diplomatic Decision-Making course, Ambassador Meighan delivered a lecture entitled "Discovering Belize."

Before the lecture, Associate Professor Cheng introduced Ambassador Meighan to the students, noting that she first came to Taiwan as an exchange student two decades ago. After earning her master's degree, she returned to Belize, where she held a number of prominent positions in both the public and private sectors. Last year, she returned to Taiwan as Belize's ambassador, fulfilling her long-held aspiration of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Cheng remarked that "Ambassador Meighan's career and achievements serve as an outstanding role model for students aspiring to pursue careers in diplomacy."

Ambassador Meighan delivered an engaging and highly interactive presentation, introducing students and faculty to Belize's history, culture, parliamentary democracy, and its role as a member of the Commonwealth. She also highlighted the close and enduring diplomatic partnership between Belize and Taiwan, discussing Taiwan's imports of Belizean seafood products such as white shrimp and lobster, bilateral trade agreements, and ongoing technical cooperation. In addition, she emphasized the longstanding scholarship programs jointly supported by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), which enable Belizean students to pursue higher education in Taiwan while fostering meaningful cultural exchange and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Through her presentation, Ambassador Meighan offered valuable insights into international relations while helping participants gain a deeper appreciation of the longstanding friendship between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies. Her visit was especially meaningful for Belizean students studying at Tamkang University under the Taiwan Scholarship Program, including sophomore students Hunter Aleah Araceli and Kalesi Vanawa Daurewa from the Department of Diplomacy and International Relations. Kalesi Vanawa Daurewa remarked, "It was a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to interact with our ambassador in person." During the lively question-and-answer session, students engaged Ambassador Meighan in discussions ranging from international politics to Belize's multicultural society, where Creole and Spanish cultures coexist, as well as the country's unique cuisine.