exchanges

China and Kyrgyzstan Vow to Deepen Cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Beijing on January 6， 2017.

President Xi observed that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kyrgyzstan， with bilateral ties at an unprecedented height. Xi attributed the achievements in bilateral ties to an adherence by both countries to the principles of good-neighborliness， mutual respect， equality， mutual benefit， and win-win cooperation. The two countries have demonstrated mutual support on issues regarding each others core interests and concerns， and maintained close communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs. China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to enhance cooperation and further their bilateral strategic partnership.

Xi spoke highly of the achievements made by the two nations in the Belt and Road Initiative， calling for a speeding up of major infrastructure projects， enhanced cooperation in production capacity， more cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises， and a dovetailing of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union. China is ready to enhance coordination with Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Atambayev said China is an important strategic partner for Kyrgyzstan and has hugely supported the countrys prosperity and stability. Kyrgyzstan is willing to enhance cooperation with China in the areas of infrastructure， agriculture and the construction of Belt and Road infrastructure projects. He confirmed that Kyrgyzstan firmly supports Chinas efforts to safeguard its core interests and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

Chinese FM Telephones U.S. Secretary of State

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was requested to have a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on January 5， 2017.

John Kerry said that in recent years， U.S.-China relations have enjoyed comprehensive development and yielded fruitful outcomes. Both countries have maintained close cooperation in pushing forward global economic recovery， coping with climate change， and resolving hotspot issues on international security. He stressed that U.S.-China relations are of great importance. It was agreed that both the United States political parties would uphold the one-China policy in accordance with the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqu s.

Wang Yi noted that the bilateral relations are at a crucial stage： building on the past while ushering in the future. Bilateral cooperation outcomes are achieved through great effort. The two countries should jointly and meticulously safeguard these outcomes and make sure that bilateral relations continue to develop in the proper direction.

The two sides exchanged views on international and regional topics of common concern.

Xi Writes to BRICS Leaders on Chinas BRICS Presidency

Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote to President Vladimir Putin of Russia， President Jacob Zuma of South Africa， President Michel Temer of Brazil and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on Chinas official assumption of the BRICS presidency on January 1， 2017， introducing the countrys vision for advancing the BRICS cooperation process.

Xi stressed that 2017 will open a second decade of BRICS cooperation. Looking to the future， BRICS countries will make greater progress in their cooperation and play a greater role in international affairs. China will hold the Ninth BRICS Summit in Xiamen， Fujian Province， in September. It looks forward to working with other member countries to reach consensus and make a blueprint for cooperation on the theme of “deepening the BRICS partnership and paving the way for a brighter future.” The Xiamen Summit is expected to make progress in the following key areas： deepening practical cooperation to promote common development； strengthening global governance to jointly address challenges； carrying out people-to-people and cultural exchanges to consolidate the public opinion basis； and creating mechanisms to forge more extensive partnerships. China will uphold the BRICS spirit of openness， inclusiveness and win-win cooperation and join hands with other member states to make the Xiamen Summit a success and take BRICS cooperation to a new level.

China， Sao Tome and Principe Resume Diplomatic Ties

China called for more pragmatic cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi made the remarks when meeting with visiting Sao Tome and Principe Foreign Minister Urbino Botelho on December 27， 2016.

China resumed diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe on December 26， after the African nation cut diplomatic ties with the Taiwan region.

Stressing that the restoration of diplomatic ties is in the fundamental interests of both countries， Yang said China appreciates the Sao Tome and Principe governments acknowledgement of the one-China policy， which provides a basis for the two countries to develop healthy， smooth， and sustained relations.

Sao Tome and Principe， an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea and a former Portuguese colony， established diplomatic relations with China immediately after gaining independence in 1975， but switched to Taiwan in 1997.

Yang said he hoped both countries would enhance political trust， increase personnel exchanges， and deepen international coordination to benefit the people of both nations.

Botelho said that Sao Tome and Principe is delighted to return to the family of China-Africa cooperation， and that his country hoped to strengthen cooperation with China， a strategic partner that will assist in its domestic development.