The Palestinian Authority foreign minister will travel to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to inaugurate a newly established Palestinian Consulate on the Caribbean Island.

Riyad al-Malki told Ma'an he would participate in the opening ceremony in Santo Domingo, during which the Palestinian flag will be raised over the consulate.

The ceremony will be attended by the newly elected president Danilo Medina Sanchez.

Former president Leonel Fernandez gave his support to the Palestinian UN statehood bid last year, saying: "Recognizing the statehood of Palestine would help bring about lasting peace in the Middle East and ease concerns in the entire Arab community."