By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
BEIJING, China; A Surinamese press delegation met with several Chinese officials in Beijing and Shanghai during a week-long visit to China last week and were informed about current political, trade and socio-economic developments in China. The delegation was composed of senior editors and journalists from De Ware Tijd and Times of Suriname newspapers and national TV station STVS.
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| The Surinamese press delegation with, in the middle, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs He Yafei. Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
During a meeting with the media representatives, Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei noted that China is ready to push forward ties with Suriname based on equality and mutual benefits.
He further stressed that Beijing is pleased concerning the bilateral ties between Suriname and China and the way in which both countries support each other on several international forums and issues.
Since Beijing and Paramaribo forged diplomatic ties 31 years ago, their friendly relations have withstood the tests of time and made new progress continuously, he said.
China attaches great importance to developing ties with Suriname and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Suriname based on quality and mutual benefits to jointly push for bilateral ties, he added.
Responding to questions from the Surinamese journalists regarding the Taiwan issue, Yafei stressed that this matter concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is related to China's core interest, adding that the Chinese government appreciates Suriname's long-standing adherence to the one-China policy.
The Deputy Minister also commented on the visit of Suriname’s Deputy Speaker of the House, Caprino Alendy and several other politicians, businessmen and union leaders to Taiwan next week.
“Of course we stand firmly opposed to this, since between China and Suriname we have formal diplomatic ties and the appropriate handling of the Taiwan issue serves as the political basis for our bilateral ties; so over this issue there is no room for us to back down or make any concession, since the Taiwan issue is crucial to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as its core interest,” said the Deputy Minister.
“It is my full conviction that any leader or any individual in Suriname that upholds justice will be able to see through these schemes of the Taiwan authorities and will continue to commit themselves to the one-China policy,” he added.
The official further argued that, currently, the Taiwan authorities are pressing ahead on the international arena with separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence", which according to the Chinese official is posing severe threats to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the whole region.
He therefore urged the international community, including Suriname, to join hands in preventing such secessionist activities by the Taiwan authorities.
With regard to economic assistance China is providing to other developing nations, the official noted that there are no strings attached to the aid.
However, the Chinese government terminated all assistance to St Lucia several weeks ago after that CARICOM nation resumed formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
According to Yafei, the government assistance is conducted under government to government agreements and, if there are no diplomatic ties between the two countries, it is impossible for one country or one government to provide assistance to another.
“I don’t think that these are political strings attached. These are only universally recognized norms in international arena,” he claimed.
According to Assistant Minister Yafei and Deputy Director-General of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Yang Yi, Taipei has political motives with the aid it is offering to countries in the Caribbean.
Yang Yi noted that the Taiwan authorities are trying to undermine the relations between mainland China and the international community. Beijing is pushing for a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but “will never promise to give up the right to use military force” if Taiwan declare its independency.
Yang Yi further noted that the Chinese government is not opposing economic and trade relations between Taiwan and other countries.
Deputy Minister Yafei also briefed the journalists about China's achievements in reform and opening up, emphasising that the successful experience of China is that the country has found a development road suitable to its national conditions.
Despite rapid economic growth, China is still facing lots of difficulties and challenges during its development process, he said.
As China shares with a large majority of developing nations the same development tasks, it is ready to share with these countries, including Suriname, achievements and experience on reform and opening up to seek common development, he added. | 
