KINGSTON - Jamaican Governor-General Patrick Allen and visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu vowed Monday to lift bilateral relations to a higher level.

During their meeting, Hui said China-Jamaica relations have made rapid progress since the two countries established diplomatic ties about 40 years ago.

Bilateral relations entered a new era of development in 2005 when the two sides upgraded their relationship to a friendly partnership for common development, said Hui.

In recent years, high-level exchanges have been enhanced and political mutual trust deepened, and mutually beneficial cooperation in economics and trade, investment, finance and infrastructure has been fruitful, he said.

The two countries have also expanded exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and sports, and enhanced coordination in regional and global affairs, he said.

Therefore, Jamaica has become an important partner of China in the Caribbean, said Hui.

China attaches great importance to its relations with Jamaica and stands ready to work with it to further carry forward the partnership for common development.

Allen, for his part, thanked China for supporting Jamaica's economic and social development, saying his country and China are good brothers and good friends.

He said productive cooperation in economics and trade and more cultural exchanges have boosted bilateral relationship.

Allen expressed the hope that the two sides would maintain the current momentum and push Jamaica-China ties to a new high.

On the same day, Hui also met Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

Hui put forward a five-point proposal for the further enhancement of bilateral relations: intensifying high-level exchanges to deepen political mutual trust, strengthening economic and trade cooperation, improving agricultural cooperation, expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promoting coordination in international affairs.

Hui said China will implement the outcome of the third China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and push for further development of China-Caribbean relations.

Golding, for his part, said Jamaica regards China as the most important partner for development and attaches great importance to relations with China. Bilateral cooperation in various fields have yielded significant results in recent years, he said.

China has offered generous assistance to Jamaica in infrastructure, agriculture and education, making great contributions to Jamaica's development and bringing real benefits to Jamaican people, said Golding.

Welcoming Chinese investment, he said Jamaica hopes to enhance cooperation with China in farm product processing, manufacturing, aviation services, infrastructure and tourism.

Golding reiterated his country's one-China policy.

After the meeting, Hui and Golding witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents.

Hui arrived here Monday for a visit. He will also travel to Bolivia, Peru and New Zealand.