China, Caribbean Countries Vow to Strengthen Relations

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 17, 2002

China, Caribbean Countries Vow to Strengthen Relations

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met Monday with foreign ministers or government representatives from eight Caribbean countries in the first official consultation between the foreign ministries of the two sides.

During the meeting, they had an in-depth exchange of views on such issues as the development of friendship and cooperation between China and the eight Caribbean countries - Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica - which have diplomatic ties with China.

The consultation took place on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the 57th General Assembly session.

Tang spoke highly of the friendly ties between China and these Caribbean countries. He said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the eight countries, both sides have seen stable development of bilateral political relations and successful exchange and cooperation in all fields.

The two sides support each other with close cooperation in international affairs, he said.

China is ready to promote the all-round development of bilateral relations on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, and work hard to set up and develop normal state-to-state relations with all the Caribbean countries, he said.

Meanwhile, Tang extended his thanks to the eight countries for their adherence to the "one-China" policy, appreciating their efforts not to establish any form of official relations with Taiwan, an inalienable part of China, not to support Taiwan's bid to join the international organizations which only grant membership to a sovereign state.

Tang put forward a nine-point proposal on how to further strengthen bilateral relations, including the strengthening of the bilateral dialogue and consultation, the development of bilateral relations of economy and trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and the strengthening of exchange and cooperation in the fields of human resources, technology, education, cultural and information.

Present at the consultation were Lester Bird, foreign minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Frederick Mitchell, foreign minister of the Bahamas, Billie Miller, foreign minister of Barbados, Samuel Insanally, foreign minister of Guyana, Julian Hunte, foreign minister of St. Lucia, Marie Levens, foreign minister of Suriname, and government representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.

The Caribbean foreign ministers agreed with the Chinese minister on the importance of the first consultation between the foreign ministries of the two sides, saying that the beginning of such a consultation is a major event in bilateral ties, and that this will be conducive to further advancing bilateral friendship and cooperation.

They said that they are very much interested in the proposal raised by Tang, and they are ready to work together with the Chinese side to implement the proposal.

China is a large country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, they said, adding that China is also a sincere partner of the Caribbean countries.

The Caribbean countries and China have a lot of interests in common and share viewpoints on many international issues, they said. Their countries value their relations with China and it is hoped that the relations will be further strengthened, they added.

The Chinese and Caribbean foreign ministers issued a joint press communiqu�� at the end of their consultation.

The foreign ministers participating in the consultation reiterated that their countries will continue to adhere to the "one-China" policy, recognizing the fact that there is only one China in the world, the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government which represents the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territories, the joint communique said.

The Chinese side understands and supports the efforts of the Caribbean countries to win special and disparity treatments in the multilateral negotiations on the international trade, the communique said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Since 1990: Facts and Figures Tell of Rising Prosperity ( 19 Messages)

Dozens Could Have Died in Food Poisoning in Nanjing ( 13 Messages)

China Hopes to See Iraqi Issue Resolved Within UN Framework ( 29 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 64 Messages)

Scholar Slates Chen Shui-bian Pro-"independence" Speeches ( 10 Messages)