Surinamese President dubs his visit to China a success

Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi concluded his six-day official state visit to China on Wednesday, April 17, the first state visit from a Latin American country to China this year.

Santokhi dubbed his visit a 'success’ which he said attracted widespread attention and has helped to take bilateral relations between his Dutch Caribbean country and China to the next level. He posited that the visit to China was not only a diplomatic trip but also a historical event.

One of the highlights of his visit was meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where he was able to have dialogue, which resulted in nine agreements being inked, including an agreement on debt restructuring with China.

“The debt restructuring with China had already been agreed upon at a technical level but was reconfirmed at a political level with a signature by President Xi Jinping,” he explained. 

Photo credit: Office of the President Suriname.

Additionally, Santokhi also discussed with his counterpart future cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, and infrastructure. During his visit, the Surinamese leader also met with Surinamese students, the diaspora in China, and a few members of the Chinese business community.

“I have invited Chinese companies to register in Suriname and establish partnerships with Surinamese companies because Suriname can provide a platform for regional growth between South America and the Caribbean,” he added.

Santokhi also congratulated the Chinese government and people on the upcoming celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2024.

Photo credit: Office of the President Suriname.