President Hipolito Mejia met with President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan and participated in the official welcoming ceremony in northern China. President Mejia is on a five-day official visit to Taiwan. As part of the protocol, the statesmen exchanged decorations. President Chen Shui-bian awarded President Mejia the Order of the Bright Star, Grand Cord, for his relevant contributions. And President Mejia decorated the Taiwanese statesman with the highest Dominican decoration, that of the Order of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, Grand Gold Cross. During the ceremony, President Shui-bian highlighted the friendship that has led to cooperation, ideas and opinion exchanges of much interest to both nations. In turn, President Mejia pointed out that Taiwan has been a true source of inspiration, information, cooperation and solidarity. "Returning to Taiwan, the Formosa of our childhood days, I am sure to find the encouragement, the decided and opportune support for all our ideas, plans, projects that can apply to Dominican national development," said Mejia. Mejia has traveled to Taiwan about 20 times in the past, on both private business and during his term as Minister of Agriculture during the late Presient Antonio Guzman’s administration (1978-1982). For Taiwan news service online reports on the trip, see http://www.chinatimes.com.tw//english/epolitic/90032507.htmhttp://210.71.181.201/index-e.html
