Dominica-China relationship:fastest growing cordial dilpomatic relationship

Roseau, Dominica – July 11, 2007….. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Labour, Hon. Charles Savarin has described the relationship between the Commonwealth of Dominica and the People’s Republic of China as “the fastest growing cordial diplomatic relationship that we have had with any country in the world since we attained independence”.

The Minister made the remark at a reception at the State House last Friday evening hosted by Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit in honour of a High Level Chinese delegation led by Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC, Her Excellency Gu Xiulian.

Hon. Savarin noted that in the three years that Dominica has had diplomatic relations with China, “we have seen very high level visits to the Commonwealth of Dominica and we have seen visits from the Commonwealth of Dominica to the People’s Republic of China so that the largest country in the world and one of the smallest have the strongest relations that we could hope to have”.

The former Ambassador to the European Union also spoke of the assistance Dominica has received from China in many areas of national development, to include sports, education, agriculture, human resource development and improvements to road infrastructure.

Hon. Savarin used the opportunity to reiterate the adherence of the Government of Dominica to the “One China policy”, the cornerstone of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

“Let me say therefore that as we move forward together we look forward to the strengthening of the already very strong ties which have been established in the last three years and full cooperation between the Commonwealth of Dominica and the People’s Republic of China,” Dominica’s Minister for Foreign Affairs concluded.