Bahamas Deputy Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes Visits China

From March 29 to April 7, Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes, deputy Governor General of the Bahamas and director of Bahamas Information Services, visited Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai with his wife and assistant at the invitation of the CPAFFC. Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Uyunqimg met with him.

In her conversation with Sir Arthur Foulkes, Vice Chairperson Uyunqimg highly appraised the development of friendly ties between China and the Bahamas since the two countries established diplomatic relations eleven years ago. She said, the friendly relations and cooperation between the two sides have grown steadily over the years and political mutual trust has been enhanced. She expressed appreciation of the Bahamian government for adhering to the One-China principle and the wish to further improve bilateral relations and friendship under the principles of treating each other as equals, enhancing friendship and expanding cooperation.

At their meetings with Sir Arthur Foulkes, both Vice Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang and CPAFFC President Chen Haosu expressed their gratitude to him for his long consistent support for and contribution to promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries. They also spoke highly of the Bahamian government’s consistent stand on no official or semi-official relations with Taiwan.

Sir Arthur Foulkes said he was pleased to see the bilateral relationship between the Bahamas and China developing very well. He said that the Bahamian people cherish profound friendly feelings towards China and admire the great achievements that China has made in recent years in the economic, political and diplomatic fronts. The Bahamas is grateful to China for aiding it with the construction of the National Stadium. He believed that the bilateral relations will become closer in the future.

Sir Arthur Foulkes reiterated that the Bahamian government will continue to adhere to the One-China principle. He believed that different nations should respect each other’s sovereignty and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of another country. Most countries in the Caribbean region regard China as a friend and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has consensus on the One-China principle. China is a true friend of the Bahamas and China’s development is beneficial to the Bahamas and the whole Caribbean region. Sir Arthur Foulkes expressed his hope that the two countries would strengthen cooperation in media, tourism, trade and other fields.

Sir Arthur Foulkes called on the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau. He said that after returning from this trip, he would discuss the Bahamas’ participation in the Shanghai World Expo with the prime minister and the newly-appointed Bahamian Ambassador to China.

Sir Arthur Foulkes together with others founded the Bahamas-China Friendship Association in 2004 and has served as its vice president. During this visit, he expressed his hope that the Bahamas-China Friendship Association and the CPAFFC would strengthen cooperation and academic, cultural andeducational exchanges.