On the morning of March 25, 2024, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who is on an official visit to China.
Li Qiang said, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Dominica. The two sides have been treating each other with mutual respect and equality over the past 20 years. Bilateral relations have made substantial progress and seen fruitful cooperation in various fields, setting a good example for countries of different sizes to achieve mutual benefits. President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and jointly draw a new blueprint for China-Dominica relations at a new starting point. China is ready to work with Dominica to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, further strengthen political mutual trust, and push for the new and greater development of bilateral relations and cooperation.
Li Qiang pointed out that, China has always supported Dominica in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence, and in following a development path suited to its national conditions. China is willing to enhance cooperation with Dominica continuously in traditional areas such as infrastructure construction, agriculture and trade within the framework of the Belt and Road cooperation, develop new highlights in cooperation on new energy, digital economy, and blue economy, among others, help Dominica improve its disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, and share more development opportunities. China supports its enterprises in investing and doing business in Dominica, and also welcomes Dominica and other Caribbean countries to actively participate in the Fourth China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum to open broader prospects for China-Caribbean economic and trade cooperation. The two sides should strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation in such areas as culture, tourism, and education. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Dominica in multilateral fields, safeguard the common interests of developing countries and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Roosevelt Skerrit said, despite the vast distance between the two countries, Dominica and China have always respected each other, cooperated closely, forged a profound friendship and set a good example for the Latin America-China friendship. Dominica appreciates China's strong support for its response to COVID-19, as well as its economic and social development. Dominica abides firmly by the one-China principle, and resolutely opposes the interference of any country in China's internal affairs and the infringement of any country on China's sovereignty. China is committed to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China are receiving more and more support from the international community. Dominica is willing to further strengthen dialogue and communication with China, increase personnel exchanges, expand cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure construction, e-commerce, renewable energy, education and other fields, work together to deal with climate change, implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and promote the building of a Dominica-China community with a shared future. Dominica is willing to become a link between Caribbean countries and China to strengthen exchanges and cooperation.
After the talks, the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the Belt and Road cooperation, agriculture and green development, infrastructure construction and the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, among others.
Prior to the talks, Li Qiang held a welcome ceremony for Roosevelt Skerrit in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wu Zhenglong attended the above events.
On the afternoon of the same day, Roosevelt Skerrit laid a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.
