Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne

President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 24. 

President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 24. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

President Xi Jinping pointed out that Antigua and Barbuda is one of the earliest countries in the Eastern Caribbean region to establish diplomatic relations with New China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 41 years ago, Antigua and Barbuda have always respected and supported each other, becoming a model of equal treatment and win-win cooperation between countries of all sizes. The relationship between the two countries has maintained healthy and stable development, practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results, and people's friendship is deepening day by day. In the new situation, China is willing to closely engage with Antigua and Barbuda at all levels and exchange experiences in governance, strengthen development strategy coordination, deepen practical cooperation, promote more achievements in China and Antigua and Barbuda relations, and better benefit the people of both countries.

President 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 related to each other's core interests and major concerns. The Chinese side 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 is in line with its own national conditions. Antigua and Barbuda is the first country in the Eastern Caribbean region to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on co building the "Belt and Road" cooperation, and the cooperation between the two countries has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. China is comprehensively promoting Chinese path to modernization with high-quality development, which will bring new opportunities for the development of Antigua and Barbuda and China cooperation. China is willing to expand cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda in trade, infrastructure construction, climate change, new energy, health care and other fields within the framework of the eight actions for high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road". Both sides should closely engage in cultural exchanges and welcome more young people from Antigua and Barbuda to come to China for further studies. China is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda, advocate for an equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the construction 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. It is willing to provide support for Antigua and Barbuda to host the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, continue to provide assistance to the economic and social development of regional countries to the best of its ability, and promote the continuous development of China's relations with Caribbean countries.

President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 24. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Prime Minister Gaston Browne expressed that on behalf of the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, I would like to sincerely thank the Chinese government for its valuable support. China's assistance and cooperation have greatly promoted the development of Antigua and Barbuda and helped us overcome poverty. China insists on the equality of all countries, big and small, and actively promotes the lofty vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. By putting forward the "Belt and Road" initiative, the global development initiative, the global security initiative, and the global civilization initiative, China has taken its own practical actions to promote the common development and prosperity of the world, benefit the people, and show unparalleled leadership and charisma in the world, It will inevitably lead more southern countries around the world to strengthen unity and cooperation. Antigua and Barbuda highly appreciates Chinese path to modernization. China's great success fully proves that China's road and system are successful and worth learning from. The relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and China is based on deep 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 adhere to 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 trusted partner, firmly standing with China on issues related to the well-being of all mankind, and safeguarding the common interests of developing countries. I hope that through this visit to China, we can push Antigua and Barbuda and China relations to a new level, achieve more cooperation results, and better benefit the people of both countries. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to actively promote the development of relations between the Caribbean Community and China.

Wang Yi attended the meeting.