51.   Armenian officials described the visit as a regular trip by a top Iranian official and said bilateral economic and political relations also were on the agenda.

52.   Baghdad usually touts such visits as proof that sanctions are crumbling.

53.   Beijing saw the visit as enhancing the status of Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province.

54.   Beijing saw the visit as enhancing the status of the chief executive of what China views as a breakaway province.

55.   Beijing saw the visit as proof Lee was steering the island away from the official goal of reunification.

56.   Beijing saw the visit as proof that, with tacit U.S. support, Taiwan was abandoning the goal of reunification with the mainland.

57.   Beijing saw the visit as evidence Lee was leading Taiwan away from the goal of reunification, and launched threatening military exercises near the island.

58.   Beijing was enraged, seeing the visit as a move to assert separate sovereignty for Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province.

59.   Both sides have hailed the visit as evidence of improving ties after tensions over human rights, trade and other issues.

60.   Bush is expected to make his first visit as president-elect to Washington early next week.