President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh arrived in the Taiwanese capital Taipei on Tuesday on a five-day working visit, according to reports monitored by the Daily Observer.

This is the Gambian leader's seventh visit to Taiwan as head of state.  During the visit President Jammeh will meet his Taiwanese counterpart, President Chen Shui-bian, and major business leaders in the Asian-Pacific island state.

The president, who left Banjul on Monday morning, is accompanied by a high-powered delegation, including the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Chrispin Grey-Johnson, amongst other senior government officials.

The Gambia is an important West African ally of Taiwan. It has been supporting Taiwan's efforts to join international organisations, especially the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.