Chen Xi

December 10 this year marks the first anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nicaragua. A year ago, Nicaragua followed the historical trend and the trend of the times, adhered to the one-China principle, resumed diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level with the People's Republic of China, stood on the right side of history like most countries, and became China's 181st diplomatic state.

Since the resumption of diplomatic relations, under the strategic plan and personal guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Ortega, the two sides have promoted cooperation with high speed and high standards. Inter-party, parliamentary, government departments, local and other fields of the two countries have carried out comprehensive exchanges, and maintained close communication and cooperation in international affairs and issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. Facts have proved that the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nicaragua is not only in line with the historical trend and the trend of the times, but also fully in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and peoples.

After the resumption of diplomatic relations, Nicaragua immediately joined the cooperation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and fully supported the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. The two sides signed the "early harvest" arrangement of the free trade agreement in a relatively short time and started negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement. In the first nine months after the resumption of diplomatic relations, the bilateral trade volume increased by nearly 30% year-on-year against the trend. The entry of Nicaragua products to China is advancing in an orderly manner. In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, the two countries watched and helped each other and overcome difficulties together. China provided Nicaragua with COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies in many batches to build a human health community with practical actions.

Humanistic exchanges tighten the emotional ties between the two peoples. The two sides carried out a series of celebrations at important time nodes such as the 100th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the Beijing Winter Olympics. The two sides immediately signed an agreement between the two governments on the mutual exemption of some visas, and the exchange of personnel was getting closer and closer. The mainstream media of the two countries have in-depth cooperation, and China's excellent film and television dramas are popular on Nicaraguan TV. More than 30 Nicaraguan students went to China to start a new life of study and became friendly messengers for cultural exchanges between China and Nicaragua. The education departments of the two countries are opening a Confucius Institute in Nicaragua to build a learning platform for Nicaraguan friends who love Chinese culture.

Everything must be done step by step. It is believed that under the strategic leadership of the leaders of the two countries and the joint efforts of both sides, the two countries will further strengthen the docking of development strategies, turn political mutual trust into an inexhaustible driving force for cooperation, and build China Nicaragua relations into a model of friendly cooperation and common development for countries of different sizes and national conditions.