Caribbean Net News: Taiwan rolls out red carpet for Dominican Republic's president

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP): Taiwan on Monday rolled out the red carpet to welcome President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, one of the 25 countries still maintaining diplomatic ties with the island.

President Leonel Fernandez Reyna of the
Dominican Republic (R) and Taiwanese
President Chen Shui-bian wave to the crowd
after reviewing Taiwan's military honour
guards in Taipei, 26 June 2006.
AFP PHOTO/PATRICK LIN

"This is your excellency's fourth visit to Taiwan, indicating you have paid heed to the friendship between the two countries," said Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian.

The Dominican Republic leader was welcomed with a 21-gun salute and a military honour guard.

Chen has visited the Dominican Republic three times since he was first elected president in 2000.

Latin America is one of the major diplomatic battlegrounds between Taiwan and China -- bitter rivals since their split in 1949.

The two have long engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-war in attempts to woo diplomatic allies away from each other with generous offers of economic and financial aid.

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