Xi hails Antigua and Barbuda ties

Nations congratulate each other on 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations

President Xi Jinping said on Sunday that he highly values developing China's relations with Antigua and Barbuda, and will work with its Governor-General Rodney Williams to jointly create a better future for bilateral ties.

Xi made the remark as he exchanged congratulatory messages with Williams on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi said that Antigua and Barbuda is an important partner of China in the Caribbean region.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations, they have forged ahead smoothly with deepened mutual political trust, fruitful practical cooperation and growing friendship between the two peoples, he said.

The two countries have helped and supported each other in overcoming difficulties since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, writing a new chapter of their friendly relations, he added.

Xi said that he is ready to work with Williams to take the 40th anniversary as a new starting point to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

Williams said the 40th anniversary is a significant milestone of the increasingly closer bilateral relationship between the two countries. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to stay committed to maintaining and enhancing the existing good relations with China, he added.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also exchanged congratulatory messages on the 40th anniversary with Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister.

South Africa

In another development, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday on the latter's re-election as president of the African National Congress, South Africa's ruling party.

In his congratulatory message, Xi said he was glad to learn of Ramaphosa's re-election as president of the ANC and he wished Ramaphosa new and greater success.

Xi said the CPC and the ANC enjoy a profound traditional friendship and have achieved fruitful results in bilateral exchanges and cooperation. This has played an important role in promoting the in-depth development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.

Xi expressed his willingness to work with Ramaphosa to lead the relationship between the two parties and the two countries to a higher level, and join hands to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ramaphosa was re-elected to lead the party for a second term of five years during the 55th national conference of the ANC last month.