China to strengthen tourism and culture cooperation with Bahamas

President Xi Jinping is meeting with Perry Gladstone Christie, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.[Photo from Xinhuanet]

Chinese president Xi Jinping met with Perry Gladstone Christie, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 7, during which the two leaders exchanged views about China-Bahamas cooperation.

Xi Jinping welcomed Christie, who is in Beijing to attend the upcoming first ministerial meeting of the forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Xi said that China paid much attention to Sino-Bahamas relations, and was eager to expand cooperation with Bahamas based on the principle of mutual respect and equality to help maintain stable and strong development of Sino-Bahamas relationships.

Xi said that leaders of the two countries should stay in close contact and that mutual cooperation and communication should be conducted at all levels. The two countries should strengthen cooperation in the fields of economic investment, agricultural and fishing industries, human resources training and new energy, and expand cooperation in the fields of tourism, education and culture, Xi emphasized.

Xi said that China was also willing to strengthen cooperation and coordination with Bahamas with regards to such issues as UN reforms, climate change and reforming global financial system.

“I met with the leaders of the Caribbean States, which have diplomatic relations with China, soon after I took the office, and the agreed points in our meetings are currently being implemented. Sino-Caribbean relations have continued to make progress and benefited peoples of both sides,” Xi said.

Xi expressed his appreciation for Bahamas’ efforts, which has recently taken over the rotating presidency of the Caribbean Community, in preparing for the first ministerial forum between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. He said that China was willing to push the China-Latin cooperation to a new high level to better serve the economic development of Caribbean countries.

In response, Christie said that Bahamas and China have continued deepening friendly cooperation with each other since they have established diplomatic relations 17 years ago, which has greatly benefited the people in both countries.

Christie said that the educational cooperation offered young students in Bahamas more opportunities to go on to higher education, and that the mutual visa exemption agreement made it easier for people from both countries to exchange visits.

Bahamas wants both sides to strengthen cooperation in investment and trade. It welcomes more Chinese tourists to come to Bahamas, and expects Chinese enterprises to take part in tourism infrastructure development in Bahamas. Christie also said that Bahamas is willing to further exchanges in the fields of culture, education, air transportation and marine research.

Christie said that the Sino-Latin Forum provided a new platform for China-Bahamas cooperation and China-Caribbean cooperation. Caribbean countries welcome China to offer preferential financing support, as well as support in human resource training, particularly for the young people.

Christie pledged that Bahamas would make more positive efforts for advancing China-Caribbean cooperation and China-Latin cooperation.