Vice President Chen Chien-jen has arrived in the Dominican Republic. He has been invited to attend the swearing-in of Danilo Medina for his second term as president.
Medina has been president of the Caribbean nation since 2012. He won re-election in May and his second term will begin on August 16th.
The vice president and his delegation arrived there early Monday morning, Taipei time, after a brief stopover in New York.
Chen said its been more than 70 years since the two sides established formal diplomatic ties in 1941. Chen said he hopes the trip will help build a mutually beneficial, win-win relationship with the Dominican Republic through the government’s “viable diplomacy.” He cited Taiwan's agricultural assistance in 1965 and the establishment of an elementary school by a Taiwanese charity there back in 2000 as an example.
Chen said it’s his first overseas trip since taking office on May 20th, and he would like to learn more about bilateral ties.
Chen will return to Taiwan on August 20.