Beijing, CMC—China’s senior legislator, Zhao Leji, has held talks with the Speaker of the Bahamas Parliament, Patricia Deveaux, and the President of the Senate, Julie LaShell Adderley, the official China news agency, Xinhua, has reported.
It quoted Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, as saying that bilateral relations between the two countries have improved significantly since they were established 27 years ago.
The Chinese official said practical cooperation has continuously expanded, and people-to-people exchanges have become increasingly close. Mutual understanding and support have also been developed on issues related to the two countries’ core interests and major concerns.
Zhao said China is willing to work with the Bahamas to deepen cooperation in various fields and accelerate the development of bilateral relations to bring increased benefits to the two countries and peoples.
He said that China has a high appreciation for the Bahamas’ firm adherence to the one-China principle, which is the political cornerstone of friendly relations between the two countries and an essential prerequisite for the deepening and expanding practical bilateral cooperation.
“We welcome the Bahamas to join the Belt and Road Initiative at an early date to open broader space for mutually beneficial cooperation and common development,” Zhao said, also expressing the hope that the Bahamas would join the “three global initiatives” and work with Beijing to contribute to world peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
Zhao said China understands and supports the special concerns of small island countries related to climate change and stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with the Bahamas in addressing climate change.
He said that exchanges between legislative bodies are essential to bilateral relations. The NPC of China is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges at various levels and in multiple fields with the House of Assembly and Senate of the Bahamian parliament, exchange experience in governance, and deepen friendship and cooperation.
“We will fully utilize the functions and roles of legislative bodies, create a sound legal environment for the two countries to strengthen trade and investment cooperation and expand personnel exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries,” Zhao said.
Deveaux and Adderley said that the Bahamas adheres firmly to the one-China principle and admires the outstanding achievements of the Chinese people.
The news agency reported that they thanked China for the selfless assistance it has provided for the Bahamas’ economic and social development and said that the Bahamian parliament’s House of Assembly and Senate are willing to strengthen exchanges with the NPC of China and contribute to promoting bilateral cooperation in fields such as the economy, trade, culture, and legislation.
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