Chinese president meets Antigua and Barbuda PM, pledging closer cooperation

BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua/Sun) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne pledged to boost cooperation during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.

Xi said China is glad to establish friendship with Antigua and Barbuda as the Caribbean country firmly supports China in many major affairs.

The Chinese president said he is satisfied with the smooth development of the relations between the two countries and believes their cooperation will continue progress across several fields.

Congratulating Browne on the signing of a series of deals during his visit, Xi said the two countries should boost cooperation in infrastructure construction and new energy, expand educational and cultural exchanges, and increase youth-to-youth communication to deepen mutual understanding.

Both as developing countries, China and Antigua and Barbuda share a wide range of "common language" on UN reform, climate change, sustainable development and other major issues, Xi said, calling on the two sides to continue to support each other and maintain close coordination in order to increase the safeguard of common interests of developing countries.

Hailing Antigua and Barbuda's role in the integration of the Latin American and Caribbean region, Xi said China stands ready to work together with the island country to strengthen the China-CELAC Forum and advance the cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean states in a sustained way.

During Xi's Latin America tour last month, he and leaders from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) jointly announced the decision to establish the China-CELAC Forum and to hold its first ministerial meeting in Beijing at an early date.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda and China, despite their great differences, have cemented friendship and boosted cooperation on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual respect, which has set an example of relationship between countries of different sizes.

Browne thanked the Chinese for their precious support and assistance, pledging that Antigua and Barbuda will firmly adhere to a friendly policy toward China and continue to back the Chinese on issues involving China's core interests and major concern. T he visiting prime minister looks forward to closer cooperation with China to improve the economy and the people's living conditions in Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda support China's stances in international affairs and stands ready to maintain communication and coordination, Browne said.

Hailing the significance of the China-CELAC Forum, Browne said Antigua and Barbuda will boost cooperation with China within the framework and make contribution to the relationship between China and the Latin American and Caribbean States. B rowne is on an official visit to China from Aug. 25 to 31 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Browne will also attend the closing ceremony of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.