Ten?Caribbean countries that have diplomatic relations with
China signed a joint communiqué yesterday reiterating their firm
commitment to the one-China policy and support for the efforts of
the Chinese government and the people to realize national
reunification.
The third round of Consultations between the Foreign Ministry of
China and the Foreign Affairs ministries of Antigua and Barbuda,
the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint
Lucia, Surinam, and Trinidad and Tobago, were held in Beijing on
Tuesday.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and Undersecretary of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service of the
Bahamas, Marilyn T. Zonicle, co-chaired the consultations.
In the joint communiqué, China expressed appreciation for these
countries' stance on the one-China policy and also reiterated its
support for the Caribbean countries in their efforts to achieve
regional integration, uphold democracy and promote development and
progress.
Other commitments agreed to by the parties include:
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To strengthen economic and trade cooperation, encourage companies
to increase contacts and expand cooperation within the framework of
the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, and
create favorable conditions for trade and mutual investment;
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China agreed to continue to provide assistance to the Caribbean
countries to the best of its ability, in order to contribute to the
social and economic development of these countries;
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To strengthen cooperation in practical terms in culture, education,
the media and tourism, encourage the exchange of visits by art
troupes, and promote cooperation in human resources
development;
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China will continue to provide scholarships to the Caribbean
countries, increase the number of scholarships offered and
encourage the Caribbean governments to send students to China.
The parties also reaffirmed the important role of the
consultation mechanism in promoting bilateral cooperation in
various fields, and agreed to strengthen political dialogue and
consultations and cooperation in international affairs to uphold
the rights and interest of the developing countries and promote
world peace, security and development.
The fourth round of consultations will be held in the Bahamas in
2008.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2006)