China, Surinam pledge to strengthen ties

Surinamese President Desire Bouterse met with a leading Chinese lawmaker here Friday, with both sides voicing commitment to strengthen bilateral ties. Surinam attaches great importance to its relations with China and firmly sticks to the one-China policy, Bouterse told Chen Changzhi, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China. The South American country is willing to work together with China to enhance ties, Bouterse said. Chen, for his part, said the China-Surinam relations have maintained sustained and rapid development since the two countries established diplomatic relations 35 years ago. Bilateral ties had strengthened in recent years with a deepening of political mutual trust, steady development of bilateral economic and trade relationship, expansion of cooperation in various sectors and mutual support and cooperation on international and regional issues. The Chinese official said Beijing is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with Surinam and implement joint projects agreed by the two sides on the basis of complementary advantages, mutual benefit and "win-win" cooperation to seek new ways to deepen bilateral cooperation. Chen also met with Jennifer Simons, speaker of the National Assembly of Surinam, and exchanged views on bilateral relations and exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries. Chen left Beijing for Surinam Tuesday for a goodwill visit. He will also visit Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda.