[China and Dominica]
In 2013, the People's Republic of China and the Commonwealth of Dominica saw steady growth of their friendly relations.
The two countries maintained the momentum of high-level exchanges. In June, during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with the Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit. In July, Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli met in Beijing and Guiyang respectively with Prime Minister Skerrit who came to China for the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference Guiyang 2013. In October, President Xi sent a congratulatory message to the newly-elected Dominican President Charles Savarin. In March, Dominican leaders sent separate letters of congratulations to Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, and Zhang Dejiang on their election as Chinese President, Premier of the State Council and NPC Chairman. In June, Matthew Walter, Dominican Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, attended the First China-Latin America and the Caribbean Agricultural Ministers' Forum held in China. In November, Prime Minister Skerrit paid an unofficial visit to Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Practical cooperation progressed smoothly. The Dominica State College and State House rehabilitation and expansion projects implemented with Chinese concessional loans were completed on schedule. Technical cooperation projects in agriculture, medical care and stadium building moved forward steadily. In January, the NPC Standing Committee officially delivered the donated office supplies to the Dominican House of Assembly. In July, China's National Development and Reform Commission and the Dominican Ministry of Public Works, Energy and Ports signed the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the Provision of Goods for Addressing Climate Change, and donated 2,500 solar LED street lamps to Dominica. In November, the China-assisted police supplies were officially handed over to Dominica.
The two countries had closer cooperation in culture, education, health and in the military field. China continued to provide Dominica with government scholarships and human resources training programs. In October, the two countries signed the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic or Service (Official) Passports. In December, Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission and Dominican Ministry of Health signed a memorandum of understanding on sending Chinese ophthalmologists to Dominica on the Brightness Action Program to provide free medical consultancy and surgery services to cataract patients. In October, Dominican senior police officers attended the Forum for Senior Defense Officials from Caribbean and South Pacific Countries held in China.
Editor:Yaling
