Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian received Dominican House of Representatives Speaker Rafaela Alburquerque at the Presidential Office Tuesday and reaffirmed the close and firm ties between the two countries.
Chen thanked Alburquerque for her country's long-standing support for the Republic of China in the international community and called for stronger and enhanced cooperative relations based on the existing cordial links.
The Dominican Republic was the first country Chen visited after he was inaugurated as president May 20, 2000, while Dominican President Rafael Hipolito Mejia Dominquez is reported to call Taiwan his "second homeland" and visited Taiwan 20 times before becoming head of state.
On behalf of Mejia and the Dominican people, Alburquerque expressed appreciation for the assistance the ROC has extended to her country in a wide range of fields.
Alburquerque and her delegation are scheduled to wrap up their five-day visit Friday.