Taipei, Dec. 2 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian hosted a state dinner at the Sheraton Hotel Monday in honor of Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia Dominguez and his entourage.
Chen thanked Mejia for his longstanding support for the Republic of China.
Describing him as the "most faithful friend" of the ROC, Chen said that Mejia has on many occasions urged the international community to support Taiwan.
For Mejia, it was his second official visit to Taiwan since he assumed the presidency two years ago, and his 24th Taiwan visit since he first came to Taipei in 1974 as a scholar in agriculture.
Chen noted that the ROC and the Dominican Republic have maintained a close relationship for six decades, mainly because the two countries share common universal values regarding freedom and democracy.
He said that Mejia is a man who understands more about Taiwan than Taiwan people themselves saying that was why he decided to attend the presidential inauguration of Mejia himself two years ago.
The president said that he first visited the Dominican Republic in 1984 when he was a member of the Taipei City Council. He is also the first ROC president to ever visit that country.
Chen said he was happy that various cooperative projects between Taiwan and the Dominican Republic have been implemented smoothly, and he expects their friendship will be further strengthened based on the present solid foundation.