Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Santo Domingo on Thursday, 20 September 2018 in the evening. He was received at the Las Americas Airport by Hugo Rivera, deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Dominican Ambassador in China Briunny Garabito Segura and China ambassador in the Dominican Republic Zhang Run.
Wang Yi made the stopover in Santo Domingo as he traveled to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly events.
On Friday, 21 September, Yi and Vargas signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Politics Consultations Mechanisms at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Foreign Minister Vargas said this is a first step for the carrying out of a joint work program. Vargas explained that bilateral trade, investment, tourism, cultural promotion and cooperation were discussed in meetings to prepare for President Danilo Medina’s trip to China at the end of October. Also discussed were matters of the United Nations Security Council. The Dominican Republic was recently elected to a seat on Security Council as a non-permanent member.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Yi noted that the Dominican Republic is the People’s Republic of China’s leading trade partner in the Caribbean. He assured that bilateral collaboration would be carried out on a base of equality and mutual benefit.
During his visit, Yi attended the inauguration of the People’s Republic of China embassy in the Dominican Republic. He also met with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations said that Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta, Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero, Civil Aviation Board director Luis Ernesto Camilo, and other government officers attended the meeting.
In a speech on occasion of the formal opening of the Chinese Embassy, Wang stated that the relationship between China and the Dominican Republic has opened a new page and ushered in a broad and bright future. Wang said that after the joint efforts of both sides, the dream of establishing diplomatic relations between China and the Dominican Republic has finally come true. “This is a historic and exciting moment”, he added.
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Mirex
ECNS
25 September 2018
