- Title: China opens embassy in Dominican Republic after break with Taiwan
- Date: 21st September 2018
- Summary: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (SEPTEMBER 21, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CHINESE STATE COUNCILLOR, WANG YI, ARRIVING TO THE RESIDENCE OF CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ZHANG RUN CHINESE STATE COUNCILLOR, WANG YI AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC'S FOREIGN MINISTER, MIGUEL VARGAS, AT THE EMBASSY UNVEILING PLAQUE THAT READS 'EMBASSY OF CHINA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC' PEOPLE LISTENING DURING CEREMONY FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, LEONEL FERNANDEZ, AMONG OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE WANG STANDING NEXT TO PLAQUE EXTERIOR OF THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE FLAG ABOVE THE RESIDENCE OF CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC CHINESE STATE COUNCILLOR WANG ARRIVING TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC'S FOREIGN MINISTRY AND BEING GREETED BY VARGAS MEETING BETWEEN CHINESE AND DOMINICAN DELEGATIONS WANG AND OTHER CHINESE OFFICIALS VARGAS AND DOMINICAN OFFICIALS GENERAL OF MEETING VARIOUS OF WANG YI AND VARGAS SIGNING AGREEMENTS WANG AND VARGAS EXCHANGING DOCUMENTS WANG AND VARGAS DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC'S FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL VARGAS SAYING: "(We have signed agreements so) we are not turning our backs on 20 percent of the world's population, the world's second largest economy and what China means for the process of technology and industrialization that, without a doubt, will contribute to the development of the Dominican Republic and benefit both countries." JOURNALIST FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE STATE COUNCILLOR, WANG YI SAYING, BASED ON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION PROVIDED DURING EVENT: "We have committed to continue strengthening the collaboration on the international stage. China totally supports the role of the Dominican Republic as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in order to work within the framework of defending security and international peace for the legitimate interests of developed nations." CELL PHONE WITH IMAGE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (MUTE)
- Embargoed: 5th October 2018 20:47
- Keywords: China diplomacy embassy Dominican Republic
- Location: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- City: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Country: Dominican Republic
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0018YKN9L3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China's most senior envoy inaugurated a new embassy in the Dominican Republic on Friday (September 21) after the Caribbean country cut ties with Taiwan in a move that prompted U.S. concern over the Asian island's dwindling number of allies.
Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi along with Dominican Republic's Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas opened the embassy in Santo Domingo.
Along with the Dominican Republic's decision in May, Panama and El Salvador also stopped recognizing Taiwan in the past two years.
The United States recalled its top diplomats in those countries over the switch of alliances and warned that China was offering economic incentives in a bid for domination.
Tensions between the United States and countries in the region have flared over U.S. President Donald Trump's hard line policies against immigration.
Self-ruled Taiwan now has formal relations with only 17 countries, almost all of them small and less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific, including Belize and Nauru.
Wang said the Dominican Republic is China's biggest trade partner in the Caribbean, setting the foundation for diplomatic ties.
Wang will also visit Guyana and Suriname before speaking at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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