President Hipolito Mejia returned to Santo Domingo last night, having spent two days in Panama to attend that country’s centenary celebrations. President Mejia held bilateral meetings there with various international leaders, including his Chinese counterpart, Chen Shui Ban. He also met with IDB president Enrique Iglesias and signed a limited trade agreement with the Panamanian authorities. While in Panama, Mejia told reporters that the trade agreement would create a new and expanded market for the trade of about 200 products from both countries, including new exports from the Dominican Republic to Panama. He said that the Dominican business community would appreciate this development and that the positive effects on the economy would be felt very soon.
It is reported that Mejia also attended a meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell during his visit, although no details of the content of this meeting have been released. The presidential director of press and information, Luis Gonzalez Fabra, described the encounter as a special honor usually reserved for the US’s European allies. On his arrival at San Isidro air base yesterday evening, Mejia was met by Vice-President Milagros Ortiz Bosch. He made no statements to the awaiting press corps.