China-Suriname bilateral relations

 ( Last Update: 2003/09/26)

I. Bilateral Political Relations

On May 28, 1976, the People's Republic of China formally established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Suriname. In May 1977, China set up its embassy in Suriname, and Suriname opened its embassy in China in Jan. 1998.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have carried fruitful cooperation in political, economic, military and cultural fields. In international affairs, the two countries always support each other and cooperate closely.

On Sept. 12-21, 1979, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname Heinemann and his wife visited China. Vice-Premier Geng Biao met with him while Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Wenjin held talks with him. It was the first official contact after the establishment of diplomatic relations.

On Dec. 18-20, 1984, Vice-Foreign Minister Han Xu paid a working visit to Suriname. President Misier, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Udenhout of Suriname met with Han. The Permanent Secretary of Foreign Ministry of Suriname Amman held talks twice with Han.

On April 22-25, 1986, Foreign Minister Herrenberg of Suriname visited China. Vice-Premier Wan Li and Secretary General of NPC Standing Committee Wang Hanbin met with him respectively. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian held talks with him. During the visit, the two sides signed an Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technical Cooperation.

From June 22 to July 1, 1987, Minister of Education, Science and Culture of Suriname Li Fuxiu visited China. Vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Zhou Gucheng met with the delegation. Cultural Minister Wang Meng and Deputy Director of the State Education Committee He Dongchang met with him and hosted a dinner in his honor respectively. On behalf on their respective governments, Li and Cultural Minister Wang Meng signed a Cultural Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname.

In June 1987, At the head of a Chinese Government Economic Delegation, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Lu Peijian went to Suriname to attend the completion and hand-over ceremony of the Gymnasium constructed with Chinese assistance. This project was the first large-scale project ever aided by China in Suriname, which won appreciation by the Surinamese Government and people from all walks of life.

On Feb. 21-24, 1990, Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Huaqiu paid a working visit to Suriname upon invitation. President Shankar, Vice-President and Chairman of Ministerial Meeting Alun met with him respectively. Foreign Minister Sedoc held talks with Liu. The two sides signed an exchange of notes on providing gratuitous assistance by the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Government of the Republic of Suriname.

On May 8-10, 1992, Surinamese Foreign Minister Subhas Mungra paid a working visit to China. Vice-Premier Wu Xueqian met with Mungra. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with him.

On July 6-10, 1993, Vice-Chairman Chen Muhua of NPC Standing Committee visited Surinam at the head of a NPC Delegation. President Venetiaan and Vice-President and Chairman of Counci of Ministers Adjodhia, Foreign Minister Mungra, and Mr. Sedoc, Minister of Planning, Development and Cooperation met with her respectively. Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon held talks with Chen.

On May 16-20, 1994, President Venetiaan of Suriname paid a state visit to China at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin. It was the first visit ever made by a head of state of Suriname to China with the aim to study and draw lessons from China's experience of reform and opening, and to expand economic and trade exchanges and cooperation. President Jiang Zemin held talks with President Venetiaan. The two presidents widely exchanged views on international situation, bilateral relations and Taiwan issue and briefed each other on their respective diplomatic policies. During the visit, the two sides signed an agreement on loans, an exchange of notes on providing some general goods by the Chinese government to Suriname, and an exchange of notes on postponing the reimbursement of China's loan for the construction of the gymnasium.

On August 22-29, 1994, Vice-Minister of Forest Wang Zhibao visited Suriname at the head of a Chinese Government Forestry Delegation. The delegation paid courtesy calls on the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Acting Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister, and held talks with the Minister of Natural Resources & Energy and signed a memorandum on forestry cooperation.

On August 10-14, 1995, Mr. Lachmon, Speaker of the National Assembly paid an official and friendly visit to China at the head of a Surinamese parliamentary delegation. It was the first Surinamese parliamentary delegation to visit China after the establishment of diplomatic ties. Chairman Qiao Shi and Vice-Chairman Chen Muhua of NPC Standing Committee met with him respectively. Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng also met with Lachmon and his delegation respectively.

From October 30 to November 3, 1995, Liu Shanzai, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation visited Suriname at the head of a Chinese Government Economic Delegation. Surinamese President Venetiaan and Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon met with the delegation. Mr. Liu held talks with the Foreign Minister and Acting Minister of Trade and Industry of Suriname Mongra.

On August 19-22, 1996, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Suriname. President Venetiaan, Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon and Minister of Defense Gilds met with him respectively. Foreign Minister of Suriname Mungra held talks with Li.

From Feb. 25 to March 6, 1997, Special Envoy of the Surinamese President and Chairman of National Democratic Party Desi Bouterse visited China. Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Chen Muhua met with him respectively. Vice- Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with Bouterse.

On May 18-22, 1998, Surinamese President Jules Wijdenbosch paid a state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. President Jiang held talks with Wijdenbosch. Premier Zhu Rongji met with him. During the visit, the two sides signed a Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname, an Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technical Cooperation, and a Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on China Providing a Preferential Loan to Suriname.

On Nov. 24-26, 2000, at the invitation of Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname, Chen Zhili, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government and Minister of Education, attended the ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Suriname.

On Dec. 22-24, 2000, at the invitation of the Foreign Ministry of Suriname, Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited Suriname. During his visit, Yang met with President Venetiaan and Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon. He also held talks with Foreign Minister Levens.

On March 5-9 2001, Chairman of the Noble Truth Party of Suriname and Minister of Social Affairs and Housing Somohardjo conducted a business investigation on his private visit to Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

On Aug. 7-9, 2001, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang visited Suriname at the head of an Economic and Trade Delegation of the Chinese Government. During the visit, Vice-Minister Sun called on the Surinamese President and Speaker, and held talks with the Surinamese Foreign Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry respectively.

On Sept. 18-21, 2001, Vice-Chairman of Jilin CPPCC Liu Xilin visited Suriname at the head of a Jilin economic and trade delegation. During the visit, Vice-Chairman Liu called on the Surinamese Foreign Minister, Trade and Industry Minister, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Regional Development. He visited the Jisen Co., a Sino-Surinamese joint venture.

On March 12-23, 2002, Surinamese Trade and Industry Minister Zhang Zhenyou and his family visited China, trying to find the roots of his ancestral family. During their visit, Deputy-Governor of Guangdong Province Li Ronggen and Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei met with Zhang and his family respectively.

On March 24-27, 2002, Vice-President of China Council for International Trade Promotion Wan Jifei visited Suriname. During his visit, Wan called on the Surinamese President, Minister of Natural Resources and Foreign Secretary.

On July 9-12, 2002, at the invitation of the leading team office for bidding 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Secretary of Surinamese Foreign Ministry Limon visited Shanghai and Beijing. During his stay in Beijing, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei met with him respectively, and Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong held talks with him.

On September 16, 2002, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held the first round of political consultation among the foreign ministries with Foreign Ministers of 8 Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China. After the meeting, Foreign Minister Tang met with Suriname Foreign Minister Maria Levens.

On September 11-13, 2002, Chinese Government Special Envoy, Vice-Mayor of Shanghai Jiang Sixian visited Suriname at the head of a Shanghai Delegation Bidding for the 2010 World Expo. Surinamese President Venetiaan and Foreign Minister Levens met with the delegation respectively.

On October 21-24, 2002, Deputy Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Cai Wu led a CPC delegation to visit Suriname. Surinames President Venetiaan, Vice-President Ajodhia and Foreign Minister Levens met with the delegation respectively.

On January 5-7, 2003, State Councilor Wu Yi visited Suriname. She met with Surinamese President Venetiaan and held talks with Vice-President Ajodhia.

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