President Chen Shui-bian arrived in Nicaragua on September 26. The president attended the "Fifth Summit of the Heads of States and Governments of the Republic of China（Taiwan）, Central America, and the Dominican Republic" in the country. The meeting was fruitful with President Chen signing with leaders of the Central American states joint communiqués.
The summit was launched with the national anthem of Nicaragua. President Enrique Bolaños Geger of the host country and President Chen both gave speeches at the opening ceremony. After the meeting, twelve leaders and representatives of the nine country members, Sistema de la Integracion Centro-america (SICA), Central American Economic Integration, and Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) lined up for a photo call. Members participating in the event were President Bolaños, President Chen, President Elias Antonio Saca of the Republic of El Salvador, President Said W. Musa of Belize, President Martín Torrijos Espino of the Republic of Panama, President Ricardo Maduro Joest of the Republic of Honduras, Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Briz Abularach of the Republic of Guatemala, Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Vinicio Vargas of the Republic of Costa Rica, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Guiliani of the Dominican Republic, SICA Secretary-General Aníbal Enrique Quiñonez, Harry Brautigan, head of CABEI, and Central American Economic Integration Secretary-General Haroldo Rodas.
President Bolaños hosted a luncheon for leaders and representatives joining the summit and President Chen was invited for a speech. In the afternoon the summit meeting held panel discussions in which members exchanged opinions on topics related to the cooperation as well as the trade relations between the ROC (Taiwan) and SICA. ROC Vice Premier Wu Rong-I and Huang Guo-jun, executive vice president of the Institute for Information Industry, gave reports on the economic cooperation of Taiwan and its CentAm allies and on the topic about Taiwan's development on digitalization. President Chen offered feedbacks on various subjects, including the international cooperation program on Central American states, Taiwan's trade relations with SICA nations, and the tourism development of Central America in additional to making an introduction to the two reports presented by Taiwan. President Bolaños gave a concluding speech after the panel discussions. The summit drew to an end as participating members signed joint communiqués and held a press conference with a Q and A session.
During the luncheon hosted by the Nicaraguan president, President Chen said that the ROC (Taiwan) and Central America and the Dominican Republic have all been members of a big family, and the summit is the day for the reunion of all family members. He owed his gratitude to each in the big family, despite the absence of some countries in the summit. President Chen expressed in particular his concern for the Costa Rican president as the country was suffering from heavy flooding.
President Chen expressed his admirations toward Nicaraguan President Bolaños for holding the successful summit although his country is mired in a constitutional debate. President Chen said he was very impressed by the country's development and progress made over the past five years. He praised the leadership of the Nicaraguan president for the prosperity of the country, and wished that President Bolaños pass the test of this constitutional crisis triumphantly. President Chen said he believed that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and leaders in the summit are all friends of President Bolaños. As the sixth summit is scheduled to take place in Taipei, President Chen invited all members to come and meet again.