NewsWhore
07-05-2007, 03:30 PM
Taiwanese Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien Lu met with President Leonel Fernandez for more than an hour at the Presidential Palace on occasion of her visit to the DR, part of a Latin American tour. She was accompanied by a 12-person official delegation. Vice President Lu highlighted the 63 years of Dominican-Taiwanese relations.
Fernandez guaranteed his continued support for Taiwan. He said the DR would continue to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. Fernandez's support is a welcoming sign for Taiwan in the region, especially since Costa Rica recently announced a switch to establish full diplomatic relations with China.
Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien Lu received the highest Dominican decoration, the Order of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the rank of grand golden cross from her Dominican counterpart Vice President Rafael Alburquerque. Vice President Lu promised to proudly carry the decoration in her heart. In turn, Lu awarded the Vice President with the Order of Propitious Clouds in recognition of his work as a lawyer, professor and promoter of worker's rights.
During her visit, Lu expressed her hope that Taiwan could continue to contribute to the construction of more cyberparks in the DR. She commented on the importance of investing in education, implementing a reverse brain drain or strong linkages with expatriate Dominican talents, promoting work culture among the people.
Lu said that they are working so that the DR and Taiwan can sign a free trade agreement by the end of the year, as reported in Hoy. She highlighted that the plan is to create a "superhighway" that will enable the manufacture of Taiwan products here for export to the United States under the DR-CAFTA. Talks for the FTA were initiated in October 2006. A Dominican delegation is scheduled to travel to Taiwan in September to continue the free trade talks. She mentioned the successful experiences of the FTA signed with Panama and Guatemala. She commented that Panama increased trade 112% with Taiwan, and Guatemala saw increased trade of 96% with Taiwan also in 2006.
In the DR, 69 Taiwan manufacture textiles, paper, plastics, as well as are involved in cattle-ranching, fisheries and farming for an estimated investment of more than US$97 million. She said there are plans for the installation of a Taiwan solar energy company, textile manufactures, assembly of motorcycles and plastics.
The Taiwanese Vice President also visited the Robert Reid Cabral Children's hospital and donated US$300,000 to the hospital, of a US$1 million donation. First Lady Margarita Cedeno received the donation on behalf of the Dominican government.
The DR is one of 24 countries that still maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Of the 24, 11 are in Latin America.
The Vice President described China as a "lion" and Taiwan as a "kitten." She said the lion wants to eat the kitten.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Fernandez guaranteed his continued support for Taiwan. He said the DR would continue to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. Fernandez's support is a welcoming sign for Taiwan in the region, especially since Costa Rica recently announced a switch to establish full diplomatic relations with China.
Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien Lu received the highest Dominican decoration, the Order of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella in the rank of grand golden cross from her Dominican counterpart Vice President Rafael Alburquerque. Vice President Lu promised to proudly carry the decoration in her heart. In turn, Lu awarded the Vice President with the Order of Propitious Clouds in recognition of his work as a lawyer, professor and promoter of worker's rights.
During her visit, Lu expressed her hope that Taiwan could continue to contribute to the construction of more cyberparks in the DR. She commented on the importance of investing in education, implementing a reverse brain drain or strong linkages with expatriate Dominican talents, promoting work culture among the people.
Lu said that they are working so that the DR and Taiwan can sign a free trade agreement by the end of the year, as reported in Hoy. She highlighted that the plan is to create a "superhighway" that will enable the manufacture of Taiwan products here for export to the United States under the DR-CAFTA. Talks for the FTA were initiated in October 2006. A Dominican delegation is scheduled to travel to Taiwan in September to continue the free trade talks. She mentioned the successful experiences of the FTA signed with Panama and Guatemala. She commented that Panama increased trade 112% with Taiwan, and Guatemala saw increased trade of 96% with Taiwan also in 2006.
In the DR, 69 Taiwan manufacture textiles, paper, plastics, as well as are involved in cattle-ranching, fisheries and farming for an estimated investment of more than US$97 million. She said there are plans for the installation of a Taiwan solar energy company, textile manufactures, assembly of motorcycles and plastics.
The Taiwanese Vice President also visited the Robert Reid Cabral Children's hospital and donated US$300,000 to the hospital, of a US$1 million donation. First Lady Margarita Cedeno received the donation on behalf of the Dominican government.
The DR is one of 24 countries that still maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Of the 24, 11 are in Latin America.
The Vice President described China as a "lion" and Taiwan as a "kitten." She said the lion wants to eat the kitten.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)