China, Dominica to boost ties

China is ready to work with the Commonwealth of Dominica to better align the two countries' development strategies and transform their friendship into the driving force of win-win cooperation, in order to benefit their peoples with greater achievements, President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

In a meeting with visiting Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit in Beijing, Xi said that China and the Caribbean nation have set a fine example of South-South cooperation since they established diplomatic relations in 2004, which Skerrit said was a correct decision made by him after severing "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan.

Xi noted that the key to the smooth development of bilateral relations lies in the high-level political mutual trust between the two countries, as well as the mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

As China advances its modernization at full throttle, Dominica is welcome to board the fast train and expand cooperation with China in fields such as trade and economy, infrastructure construction, agriculture and healthcare, Xi said.

In 2018, China and Dominica signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation. Last year, the two-way trade between the countries exceeded $73.5 million, a year-on-year growth of 111.5 percent, according to statistics from China Customs.

Xi said that China welcomes more young students from Dominica to study in the country, and will continue to provide scholarships and training opportunities for them.

Emphasizing that China upholds the belief that all countries, regardless of their size or strength, are equal members of the international community, Xi said that China attaches importance to the concerns and appeals of small island developing countries in the field of climate change, and supports Dominica in playing an active role in global and regional affairs.

He also expressed China's support for Caribbean countries in seeking national prosperity and development as well as in improving their public well-being.

Skerrit said as a great nation, China has not only made remarkable achievements in areas such as poverty alleviation and its overall development, but has also made important contributions to peace and development in Caribbean countries and across the world.

He reiterated his country's adherence to the one-China principle, saying that Dominica supports China's just cause of realizing complete reunification and opposes any external interference in China's internal affairs.

Dominica is willing to work with China to strengthen strategic communication, deepen friendship between their peoples, boost all-around cooperation and become all-weather strategic partners, in order to raise bilateral ties to a higher level, Skerrit added.

Premier Li Qiang, who held a welcoming ceremony for Skerrit, said at their meeting on Monday that China supports Dominica in safeguarding Dominica's national sovereignty and independently choosing a development path that suits the country's national conditions.

China is willing to continuously strengthen cooperation with Dominica in traditional sectors under the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, create new highlights of cooperation in fields such as new energy and the digital economy, and help improve the Caribbean country's disaster prevention and reduction capabilities, Li said.

Li and Skerrit witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents between the two countries after their meeting.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, also met with Skerrit on Monday.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn