On June 1 and 2 local time, President Xi Jinping met respectively with Donald Ramotar, President of Guyana, Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Perry Christie, Prime Minister of Bahamas, and Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica, in Port of Spain, capital of Trinidad and Tobago. He exchanged views with them on strengthening bilateral friendly cooperation as well as overall relations between China and the Caribbean Region.
When meeting with Ramotar, Xi Jinping said that Guyana is the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relationship with China, and the relations between the two countries enjoy a very good foundation. China is willing to work with Guyana to continue enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislative bodies and political parties, to deepen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure construction, bauxite exploitation, agriculture, forestry and fishery and to carry out projects of the airport, e-government and hydro-power generation plant in Guyana. As China and Guyana share extensive common interests in he international system reform, climate change and other issues, both sides need to keep closer cooperation in multilateral occasions.
Ramotar said that Guyana and China enjoy long-term friendly exchanges and mutual support. Guyana highly praises China’s development and appreciates China’s important contributions to safeguarding world peace and assisting developing countries. Guyana looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China so as to raise the level of development of its own country.
When meeting with Spencer, Xi Jinping said that Antigua and Barbuda is an important cooperative partner of China in the Caribbean Region. China thanks Antigua and Barbuda for its precious support on issues concerning China’s major core interests. China values the cooperation proposals put forward by Antigua and Barbuda in the fields of raising people’s livelihoods and of tourism, and is willing to exchange with Antigua and Barbuda to learn from each other on environmental protection and ecological civilization construction. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Antigua and Barbuda. We hope that the two countries will take this opportunity to push the friendly cooperation to a higher level. As Antigua and Barbuda will hold the rotating chair of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda.
Spencer said that Antigua and Barbuda thanks China for developing relations with Antigua and Barbuda always by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and offering precious support to the country. Antigua and Barbuda hopes to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, trade, culture, and multilateral affairs. Antigua and Barbuda wishes China to realize the Chinese dream at an early date, and believes that China’s development will bring opportunities for common development for Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean countries.
When meeting with Skerrit, Xi Jinping noted that Dominica is a good friend and a good partner of China. The two countries have carried out valuable cooperation in raising people’s livelihood and other fields. Both sides would continue to transfer technologies and share experiences in agriculture, health care and other areas, down to the details of economic and technological cooperation, explore clean energy, jointly cope with climate change, expand people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation in personnel training.
Skerrit thanked China for its assistance to Dominica and hoped to enhance cooperation with China in the fields of transportation infrastructure construction, education and health care, so as to raise people’s living standard. Dominica appreciates China’s position on climate change, especially China’s support and assistance to small island countries. Dominica is willing to work with China to support each other and to enhance cooperation.
When meeting with Mitchell, Xi Jinping expressed appreciation for Grenada’s support to China on issues concerning China’s core interests. He said that the bilateral relations between China and Grenada have developed smoothly over the past eight years. The two sides should take a future-oriented perspective and continue to work together for a long-term sound and stable development of the relations between the two countries. Both sides should keep high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust, and improve cooperation in the fields of infrastructure construction, agriculture, human resources, education, culture and tourism.
Mitchell said that the two countries enjoy fruitful cooperation. The relationship between the two countries is now facing sound opportunities. Grenada wishes to continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship with China based on the principle of mutual respect and to promote friendly cooperative relations.
When meeting with Christie, Xi Jinping said that the Bahamas, as an important offshore financial center and marine transportation hub in the world, and with boasting tourism, is an important economic and trade cooperative partner of China in the Caribbean Region. The two countries enjoy great potential for the cooperation. Both sides should strengthen communication, deepen practical cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and tourism, and enhance educational, cultural and people-to-people exchanges so as to elevate the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries to a new level.
Christie said that it is crucial for economic and social development of the Bahamas to strengthen friendly cooperation with China. The Bahamas hopes to expand investment and financing cooperation with China, to do the projects of agricultural technology training, tourism infrastructure construction and others for people’s wellbeing. The Bahamas welcomes Chinese citizens travelling to the country.
When meeting with Simpson-Miller, Xi Jinping said, Jamaica is a big country in the Caribbean Region as well as one of China’s most important cooperative partners in the region. The two sides may strengthen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure construction, agriculture, telecommunications and mining. During my visit to Jamaica four years ago, I was deeply touched by the Jamaican people for their love of the Chinese culture. The Chinese people are very familiar with those excellent athletes of Jamaica. The two sides can strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, sports and tourism.
Simpson-Miller said that Jamaica cherishes the friendship with China and is grateful for China’s assistance. Jamaica is willing to strengthen economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with China, and to conduct communication and mutual learning on sports and environmental protection.
Xi Jinping also exchanged views with the above state leaders on the relations between China and the Caribbean countries. Xi Jinping stressed that countries in the Caribbean Region are an important force in the international community. China-Caribbean cooperation has boosted development of both sides and benefited both peoples. China is willing to establish and develop comprehensive cooperative partnership with countries in the region.
The Caribbean side agreed that President Xi Jinping’s visit demonstrates the importance China has attached to the Caribbean Region, and they are willing to work with China to push the Caribbean-China relations for new development.
Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechi were present at the above activities.
Source link : https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/3376_665447/3448_664958/3450_664962/201306/t20130606_594128.html
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Publish date : 2013-06-03 03:00:00
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