- President Xi calls Prime Minister Browne a true friend of the Chinese people
On Wednesday, Xi Jinping met with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne in Beijing.
Antigua and Barbuda was one of the first Eastern Caribbean countries to establish diplomatic ties with China 41 years ago, and Xi said the two countries have always respected and supported each other, setting an example of equality and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes.
Xi said bilateral ties have sustained healthy growth, pragmatic cooperation has been productive, and people’s friendship has deepened.
Xi said China is willing to improve exchanges at all levels and governance experience with Antigua and Barbuda, strengthen synergies of development strategies, deepen practical cooperation, and push China-Antigua-Barbuda relations to achieve more results and benefit the two peoples.
He said the two sides should maintain their friendship, build political trust, and understand and support each other on topics that affect their basic interests and major concerns.
Xi said China values Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to the one-China principle and will always help it protect its sovereignty and independence and choose a development path that suits its needs.
He said Antigua and Barbuda is the first Eastern Caribbean country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation MoU with China, and the two sides’ cooperation has brought tangible benefits to both peoples. He added that China is now advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, which will create new opportunities for bilateral cooperation and development.
Xi said China is eager to strengthen trade, infrastructure, climate change, new energy, medical, and health care collaboration with Antigua and Barbuda under the eight major stages to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Xi welcomed more Antigua and Barbuda youth to study in China, saying both sides should strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
He said China will strengthen multilateral coordination with Antigua and Barbuda to create an equal and orderly multipolar world, universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and a shared future for humanity.
China values Antigua and Barbuda and other small-island developing countries’ climate change concerns and demands, and is ready to support Antigua and Barbuda in hosting the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, continue to assist regional countries’ economic and social development within its capacity, and promote China-Caribbean relations.
