China and Guyana on Friday vowed to build a closer community with a shared future as Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province. 

Ali arrived in Chengdu on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games and visit China.

During the meeting, Xi hailed bilateral enduring friendship, stressing that China and Guyana should be good friends who trust each other and rely on each other.

He called on the two sides to share opportunities, tackle challenges, seek cooperation and promote development together so as to build a closer China-Guyana community with a shared future.

As two developing countries, China and Guyana should work in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, strengthen communication and cooperation, and firmly support each other to achieve the steady and sustained development of the bilateral ties, Xi noted.

He added the Chinese side is willing to promote the in-depth docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with Guyana's Low-carbon Development Strategy 2030 and welcomes Guyana's participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Stressing China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Guyana, Xi said the two sides should expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of energy, mining, finance, agriculture and fisheries, and infrastructure construction, and cultivate new growth areas such as new energy and green development.

The Chinese president urged efforts to improve cooperation in people-to-people exchanges, so as to consolidate the foundation of friendship between the two countries.

Noting China and Guyana share broad common interests and similar positions in international and regional affairs, Xi said China supports Guyana in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.

China is willing to work with Guyana in practicing genuine multilateralism, safeguarding the common interests of the developing countries, and jointly addressing the challenges of climate change, food security, energy security and other issues, Xi said.

The Chinese president also recalled his visit to the Caribbean region in 2013, adding that China has consistently supported Caribbean countries in their unity, self-reliance, development and prosperity, and is willing to work with the Caribbean side to build a closer China-Caribbean community with a shared future.

Xi hoped that the Guyanese side will continue to play an active role in the development of relations between China and the Caribbean countries.

President Ali, for his part, stressed that relations between Guyana and China have maintained sound development with strong political mutual trust.

The Guyanese side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, Ali noted, adding his country regards China as a highly reliable partner and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Guyana.

China has played an important role in the economic and social development of Guyana and the Caribbean region, not only sharing China's experience, but also providing valuable assistance to Guyana and regional countries in the development of infrastructure, connectivity, medicine and health, he said.

Voicing his support to a series of major initiatives put forward by President Xi, the Guyanese president also said his country hopes to work closely with China to better address global challenges such as energy, climate change and food security.