Wang Yi meets foreign guests from Caribbean countries

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with foreign ministers and representatives of the Caribbean countries who came to Beijing to attend the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

The foreign ministers and representatives come from Caribbean countries that have diplomatic relations with China, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in the past 10 years, the China-Caribbean comprehensive cooperative partnership has entered the fast lane and cooperation in various fields has achieved notable outcomes.

Leaders of all Caribbean countries having diplomatic ties with China have made visits to China, a large number of key cooperation projects have been put into use or advanced steadily, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges have become increasingly active, Wang said, adding that the forum has helped both sides achieve mutual success, promoted South-South cooperation, and enhanced the influence of the Global South.

Wang said that Caribbean countries are indispensable members of the China-CELAC Forum. Looking forward to the future, the two sides should deepen political mutual trust and continue to support each other on issues concerning respective core interests. The two sides should advance practical cooperation, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and help Caribbean countries accelerate self-driven development.

The Chinese foreign minister said China will provide more government scholarships and training opportunities to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. The two sides should strengthen multilateral cooperation and build a more just and equitable global governance system. China will continue to provide assistance to Caribbean countries in dealing with climate change and support Caribbean countries in playing a greater role in international affairs.

Foreign ministers of Caribbean countries expressed gratitude for China's long-standing strong support in critical sectors such as infrastructure, which has helped improve people's well-being, enhance economic resilience and accelerate sustainable development in the region.

They reiterated that the one-China principle is the cornerstone of China-Caribbean relations and Caribbean countries will continue to steadfastly uphold it. Caribbean countries look forward to strengthening South-South cooperation through the China-CELAC Forum platform, they said.