On Friday, 21 September 2018, People’s Republic of China national anthem was heard in Santo Domingo as China formally opened its embassy. Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi headed the ceremonies for the Chinese government. Yi said that this was an historic moment and that the relationship between China and the Dominican Republic had opened a new page. The opening of the embassy comes a little more than four months after the two countries established diplomatic ties on 1 May 2018, following several years of trade exchanges.
The decision to establish ties with China brings Dominican foreign policy up to date, according to Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas, who said during the embassy opening that the Caribbean nation could not ignore a country that represents 20% of the global population and the world’s second-biggest economy. “It is a firm and giant leap forward in the Dominican Republic’s international diplomatic relations,” said Vargas.
As part of the inauguration ceremony, the foreign ministers unveiled a plaque and gave a toast to the new bilateral relations.
The Dominican Republic is a major importer of goods from China. There are expectations the closer ties will bring more balance to the relationship.
According to the executive director of the National Free Zones Council Luisa Fernandez, in October, a Chinese shoe manufacturer is set to open a plant at one of the Dominican Republic’s free zones, creating 4,000 jobs.
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Infosurhoy
25 September 2018
