5. Xi meets prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda

Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister Browne of Antigua and Barbuda

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 24 (Reporter Yang Yijun) – On the afternoon of January 24, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, who was in China for an official visit.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Antigua and Barbuda is one of the first countries in the Eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with New China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 41 years ago, China and Antigua and Barbuda have always respected and supported each other, becoming an example of equal treatment and win-win cooperation between large and small countries. The relations between the two countries have maintained healthy and stable development, pragmatic cooperation has achieved fruitful results, and the friendship between the two peoples has deepened day by day. Under the new situation, China is willing to work with Antigua and Barbuda to intensify exchanges at all levels and exchange experience in state governance, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen practical cooperation, and promote China- Antigua and Barbuda relations to achieve more results and better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China and Antigua and Barbuda should continue their traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, and continue to understand and support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns. China highly appreciates that Antigua and Barbuda has always firmly adhered to the one-China principle, and will continue to support Antigua and Barbuda in safeguarding national sovereignty and independence and independently choosing a development path that suits its national conditions. Antigua and Barbuda is the first country in the Eastern Caribbean to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in jointly building the “Belt and Road” with China. The cooperation between the two parties has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. China is comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization with high-quality development, which will bring new opportunities for Antigua and Barbuda development and China-Antigua cooperation. China is willing to expand cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda in trade, infrastructure construction, climate change, new energy, medical and health and other fields within the eight-action framework of the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides should intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges and welcome more young people from Antigua and Barbuda to study in China. China is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda, advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China attaches great importance to the concerns and demands of small island developing countries such as Antigua and Barbuda in the field of climate change, and is willing to provide support for Antigua and Barbuda to host the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the economic and social development of regional countries, and promote Relations between China and Caribbean countries have continued to develop.

Brown said that on behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda government and people, I would like to sincerely thank the Chinese government for its valuable support. China’s help and cooperation have greatly promoted the development of Antigua and Barbuda and helped us get rid of poverty. China adheres to the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal and actively promotes the lofty vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. By proposing the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative, global development initiative, global security initiative and global civilization initiative, China uses its own practical actions to promote the world’s common development. Prosperity, benefiting the people, and demonstrating unparalleled leadership and charisma in the world will surely lead more countries in the Global South to strengthen unity and cooperation. Antigua and Barbuda highly appreciates Chinese-style modernization. China’s great success fully proves that China’s path and system are successful and worthy of learning from all parties. Antigua and Barbuda-China relations are based on profound friendship, mutual trust, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. Antigua and Barbuda firmly believes that Taiwan has been, is, and will be a province of China. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle and firmly support China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Antigua and Barbuda is willing to be China’s most trustworthy partner, stand firmly with China on issues involving the well-being of all mankind, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. We hope that through this visit to China, we can push Antigua and Barbuda -China relations to a new level, achieve more cooperation results, and better benefit the two peoples. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to actively promote the development of relations between CARICOM and China.

Wang Yi attended the meeting.