Vice President Zeng
Qinghong addressed the opening ceremony of the first
Ministerial Meeting of the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade
Cooperation Forum in Jamaica on Wednesday and outlined a five-point
proposal for closer ties.
They were: to maintain exchanges of high-level visits and cement
political relations; to create new forms and explore areas of
cooperation; to give full play to government roles in providing
quality services; to promote cultural exchanges and enhance mutual
friendship; and to enhance consultation and cooperation in
safeguarding common interests.
He said that ties with Caribbean nations have deepened over the
years, and that the forum is of great significance and will surely
give great impetus to exchanges, cooperation and friendship.
According to government figures, trade volume between China and
Caribbean countries in 2004 totaled US$2 billion, a 42.5 percent
increase on the previous year.
Zeng stressed that the government will continue to provide
assistance to Caribbean states without political conditions and to
encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in them. He also affirmed a
commitment to protect the interests of developing countries in
various international arenas.
Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Noel James Patterson said the
ongoing forum marks "a major milestone" between the people of China
and the Caribbean, and opens "a new chapter" in relations.
"An increasing number of Caribbean countries have become
committed to the one-China policy and are active participants in
mutual cooperation programs," he said.
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime
Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Vice President Carlos Lage
Davila of Cuba and Vice President Jules Ajodhia of Surinam, as well
as nearly 1,000 government officials and business people were
present at the opening ceremony.
Afterward, representatives from China and 11 Caribbean countries
signed an action plan for economic and trade cooperation.
The forum was initiated by China in 2004 and will be held every
three to four years. The next ministerial meeting will be held in
Beijing.
The forum also includes parallel sessions, business conference
and networking, and a trade fair.
Zeng flew into Jamaica on Tuesday, the last leg of his tour
after Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. He is
scheduled to return to Beijing on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2005)