PARAMARIBO — China and Suriname agreed to deepen pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a meeting between Surinamese Vice-President Ashwin Adhin and visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sept 23.
Surinamese Foreign Minister Yldiz Pollack-Beighle and other government ministers attended the meeting. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern.
China attaches importance to the development of ties with Suriname, Wang said during the talks, calling on both sides to deepen pragmatic cooperation on the basis of consolidated mutual political trust in order to achieve a win-win situation.
He said China appreciates Suriname’s support for and participation in the building of the Belt and Road.
The two sides reached an agreement on BRI cooperation in May this year, which Wang said will bring broader prospects and new opportunities for bilateral cooperation as well as more benefits to the people of Suriname.
Wang called on both sides to step up alignment of their strategies and deepen cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and tourism.
He also called for increased people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including jointly building a Confucius Institute at the University of Suriname.
China is willing to continue cooperation on human resources development in order to train more talents needed in Suriname’s economic and social development, Wang said, noting that China appreciates Suriname’s help with its hunt for fugitives and illicit money, and is willing to strengthen anti-corruption cooperation.
Wang also praised the 42-year-old China-Suriname relations based on mutual respect, trust and support as a model for South-South cooperation and exchanges between countries of different sizes and cultures.
He said China appreciates the Surinamese government’s adherence to the one-China policy and respect for China’s core interests, adding that China will continue to support Suriname’s efforts to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests in international affairs.
Wang also noted that China and Suriname, both as developing countries, should join hands to safeguard multilateralism and international trade rules, as well as the common interests of the two countries and of the developing countries.
China has been working to deepen ties with the Caribbean countries, and it hopes that Suriname will continue to push China’s cooperation with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in efforts to building a community of a shared future for mankind, said Wang.
Adhin said Wang’s visit to Suriname will help further the friendly relations and pragmatic cooperation between their two countries.
Adhin praised the Suriname-China relations as a partnership enjoying mutual trust and equality, noting Suriname has consistently adhered to the one-China policy.
Adhin and Surinamese ministers attending the talks regard China as the most important partner in Suriname’s development, saying bilateral cooperation provides opportunities and helps promote the growth in various areas.
They reaffirmed Suriname’s commitment to building the Belt and Road, and expressed the hope to expand cooperation in a range of fields including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, investment, technology, culture, tourism, human resources and healthcare.
They said Suriname attaches great importance to China’s role in the world’s political and economic affairs, and is willing to closely communicate and coordinate with China to jointly promote global peace and development and achieve a fairer and more reasonable international order.
Wang arrived in Paramaribo on Sept 22 for a two-day official visit. He is on a three-nation tour through Sept 23 to Latin America, which has taken him to the Dominican Republic and Guyana.
