Arriving in the Dominican Republic on Monday, President Chen Shui-bian (
Following a six-hour flight from Los Angeles, the president's special chartered jet landed at De Las America International Airport in the Dominican capital Santo Domingo, where Chen received a formal military salute and was welcomed by Dominican Foreign Minister Eduardo Latorre.
Hundreds of overseas Taiwanese in the country, including more than 200 from the US, welcomed the delegation, waving Taiwanese flags and banners. Unlike, his stopover in the US, President Chen walked directly to the crowd to shake hands with them.
PHOTO: SHING TING-WEI, LIBERTY TIMES
Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia publicly stressed that he would be a loyal friend to Taiwan and expressed his desire to visit the country before March next year.
After his arrival, Taiwan's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Sun Ta-cheng (孫大成) briefed the president about the political and economic situation in the Dominican Republic, especially concerning China's efforts to strengthen ties with the Caribbean nation.
"China has sent its official representative, Zhao Rongxian (趙榮憲) to Santo Domingo, but to no avail. The Dominican government doesn't need to ingratiate itself with China since it is already set to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (非常任理事國) in 2002," Sun told the delegation.
Chen encouraged all foreign affairs officials to fight to protect Taiwan's existing place in the international community.
"We understand the difficult situation you work under, with China constantly trying to pull the rug out from under our feet (
Later, at a dinner party attended by hundreds of overseas Taiwanese at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel, President Chen expressed his confidence in bilateral ties between the two countries.
"I dedicate my first foreign visit to the Dominican Republic and all overseas Taiwanese in this country," Chen said.
"My first experience in calling on a president was when I shook hands with the President of the Dominican Republic 16 years ago, when I was a Taipei City Councilor."
Chen said that experience made him seriously consider running for head of state.
Chen told hundreds of overseas Taiwanese the experience was "just like that of President Clinton, who began dreaming of being in the White House after shaking hands with President Kennedy."
Chen also said diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Dominican Republic will remain strong because Mejia, who has been to the island a total of 22 times, considers Taiwan a close ally.
Mejia, meanwhile, said he was sincere in staying friends with Taiwan and had no interest in appeasing China.
"It can be said without doubt that among the nations in the whole of Central and Latin America, I am the best friend of the ROC," Mejia said. "The Dominican Republic has the closest and the best relationship with Taiwan," Mejia added.
President Chen also noted the strong business ties between the Dominican Republic and Taiwan.
However, the main purpose for Chen's visit to the nation was to attend Mejia's inauguration, scheduled for Aug. 16. Chen first visited the Dominican Republic 16 years ago when he was a Taipei City Councilor and is the first ROC president to ever visit the nation.
Later yesterday evening, Chen met with more overseas Taiwanese, and stressed that the more China attempts to interefere in Taiwan's affairs, the more the nation will fight back. He also said that pro-China groups operating within Taiwan's borders will never hinder national development.
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