Tang Jiaxuan, a state councilor, met in Beijing Thursday with Frederick Mitchell, minister of foreign affairs and public service of the Bahamas.

Tang said China values its relations with the Bahamas. In the past six years since forging diplomatic ties, the two sides have striven to promote their political, economic and trade and cultural cooperation, and have made good progress.

Tang said that last year he held consultations with the foreign ministers of eight Caribbean countries that China has diplomatic ties with, and put forward concrete proposals for enhancing the Sino-Caribbean ties. In the past year, China has done a great deal to implement the proposals and reciprocal cooperation has been accordingly strengthened.

He said China is pleased at the progress of relations, wishing to further develop its ties with Caribbean countries, including the Bahamas.

Mitchell said the two countries have reached many cooperation agreements since establishing diplomatic ties. This time he has seen with his own eyes China's development and changes, and the bright prospects of bilateral relations, hoping to further explore new areas for bilateral cooperation.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2003)