KINGSTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong Wednesday described as a milestone in bilateral tiesthe first Ministerial Meeting of the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum 2005 that opened here Wednesday morning.

    When making a speech at the opening ceremony of the two-day forum, Zeng said the forum is of great significance and far-reaching impact, and will surely give a great impetus to the exchanges, cooperation and friendship between China and Caribbean countries.

    The China-Caribbean ties have been growing in depth over the years, he said, adding besides the frequent exchanges of high-level visits, the two sides enjoy closer and closer cooperation intrade, economy, technology and culture.

    In international affairs, Zeng said, both sides have always rendered each other support and close collaboration.

    In recent years, he continued to say, bilateral trade and economic exchanges have been greatly enhanced, with Chinese and Caribbean enterprises taking an increasingly keener interest in mutual investment and cooperation.

    The forum is "the right answer to this call and the mirror to what we all need", he said, noting it facilitates cooperation in trade, agriculture, tourism transportation, fishery, telecommunications and finance between Chinese and Caribbean governments, the business communities and relevant regional organizations.

    He stressed that the Chinese government will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the Caribbean countries without attaching any political conditions and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest more in the Caribbean.

    Efforts should be made to tap the trade potentials and optimizeChina-Caribbean trade structure, he said, adding China welcomes more students from Caribbean countries having diplomatic ties withChina.

    China will continue to safeguard the rights and interests of the vast number of developing countries, those in the Caribbean included, in various international arenas, he said.

    Zeng stated his ongoing visit in Latin America and the Caribbean has met its goal of "promoting friendship, enhancing mutual trust, deepening cooperation and seeking common development."

    Zeng also briefed the forum on the world situation and China's economic growth, urging the developing countries to work hand in hand in pursuit of faster and common development while sparing no efforts in promoting all-round, coordinated and sustainable development for all mankind.

    Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Noel James Patterson said the ongoing forum marks "a major milestone" between the people of China and the Caribbean, and opens "a new chapter" in bilateral relations.

    "The time has come to explore and exploit new avenues for economic and trade cooperation between China and our region," he said.

    "An increasing number of Caribbean countries have now become committed to the one China policy and are active participants in our mutually beneficial cooperation programs," he said, adding this will help promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation and enhance "our common development in partnerships".

    Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Vice President Carlos LageDavila of the Council of State of Cuba and Vice President Jules Ajodhia of Suriname, as well as nearly 1,000 government officials and businessmen from China and the Caribbean were present at Tuesday's opening ceremony.

    After the opening ceremony, representatives from China and 11 Caribbean countries signed an action plan for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

    The forum was initiated by China in 2004 and well responded to by the Caribbean countries. It will be held every three to four years and the next ministerial meeting will be held in Beijing.

    The forum also includes parallel sessions, a business conference and business networking, and a trade fair.

    According to Chinese statistics, the trade volume between Chinaand the Caribbean in 2004 totaled two billion US dollars, a 42.5 percent increase over the previous year.

    Zeng Tuesday flew into Jamaica, the last leg of his five-nationvisit in Latin America and the Caribbean after Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. He is scheduled to leave here for Beijing Thursday. Enditem