PARAMARIBO — Suriname and China have had a good diplomatic relationship for fifty years. Both countries regard this bond as a milestone and want to continue their cooperation. In connection with this, a 14-man delegation from the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) visited President Jennifer Simons and then Parliament on Monday. The meeting took place at the presidential palace. Heading the delegation is CPPCC Vice Chairman Bater.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation (BIS) Melvin Bouva as well as Chinese Ambassador Lin Ji, both President Simons and the CPPCC Vice Chairman emphasized the importance of the cooperation. According to the president, the bond with China goes far beyond formal diplomatic relations. She pointed to the arrival of Chinese indentured servants as the basis for the lasting historical and cultural connections between the two countries.
“Now it is important: ‘How are we going to initiate the next phase of this relationship?’”
BIS minister Melvin Bouva
Furthermore, the head of state praised the Chinese community, which has made an important contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of Suriname. “Suriname reaffirms its long-standing commitment to the One-China Principle, which has been a fundamental pillar of our diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China since 1976,” the president emphasized.
Over the past five decades, bilateral cooperation has expanded across a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, infrastructure development, energy and mining, agriculture, health, education, technology, cultural exchanges and technical cooperation. The upcoming offshore oil industry is a great opportunity to further strengthen cooperation.
“We attach great importance to deepening bilateral trade and investment relations, promoting greater engagement between our respective business communities, encouraging mutually beneficial investment opportunities and facilitating access for Surinamese products to the Chinese market,” said President Simons.
Furthermore, deepening of the strategic partnership was discussed. “Suriname is particularly interested in partnerships that support economic diversification, technology transfer, local employment and the development of a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of our changing economy,” said President Simons. Suriname therefore considers it essential to ensure the effective implementation of agreements and understandings reached in the recent past.
According to Minister Bouva, it is good that the government of China has sent a special delegation. The government official speaks of the next step in the bilateral relationship with China. An important foundation has already been laid, which will be further built upon to take a number of very specific and concrete steps. “Now it is important: ‘How are we going to start the next phase of this relationship?’, says Minister Bouva. According to him, the visit can be seen in this context.
The delegation also visited parliament on Monday. Parliament Speaker Ashwin Adhin pointed out the opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences, including in the field of technology and the functioning of political institutions. He also indicated that Suriname can learn a lot from developments in China.
Bater explained about the CPPCC, in which representatives of various political parties and social sectors come together to discuss national issues and provide advice. He explained how the organization collects knowledge and insights from different parts of society to support decision-making.
During the meeting, the party leaders also had the opportunity to share their views on relations between Suriname and China. They discussed the historical ties, existing cooperation and the possibilities to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
