Vice-President Zeng Qinghong met Thursday with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, at the Great Hall of the People here in the Chinese capital.

Zeng said China and Antigua and Barbuda have had a smooth growth of friendly cooperative relations since the forging of their diplomatic ties 21 years ago. The two countries have the exchange of personnel maintained, mutual understanding and friendship strengthened, and technological and economic cooperation achieving fruitful results. They also gave support to and coordinate with each other in international affairs.

The Chinese government attaches much importance to bilateral ties, he said. It will join hands with Antigua and Barbuda to enhance cooperation in fields like economy and trade, culture, tourism and human resource development and bring friendly relationship for cooperation to a new height.

The Chinese government also values friendly relationship with countries in the Caribbean and Latin-American regions, Zeng noted, adding the first ministerial meeting for China-Caribbean economic and trade cooperation will be held in Jamaica February next year.

China will make efforts with all parties concerned to ensure a successful meeting, in a view to pushing forward economic and trade ties between China and all Caribbean countries, Zeng said.

Spencer said the political ties between the two countries have been strengthened over the past 21 years, and their cooperation in such fields as economy and trade have also achieved positive results.

Appreciating highly China's contribution in maintaining the world's peace and security, Spencer noted that his government will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and, along with China, is ready to press ahead with the economic and trade cooperation between Caribbean countries and China.