On occasion of the visit of President Danilo Medina and a cabinet delegation to China, the Ministry of Foreign Relations has published the list of 19 memorandums of understanding and agreements the Dominican mission to the People’s Republic of China signed in Beijing during the first official visit. Details on the arrangements have not been released to the press.
The agreements cover cooperation in infrastructure construction, finance, commerce, immigration, agriculture, education, tourism, aviation, sports, among others. They were signed on 2 November 2018 in the presence of Dominican and Chinese Presidents, Danilo Medina and Xi Jinping, after their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, reportedly on issues of the bilateral and global agenda.
They are the named:
Memorandum of Cooperation in the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives. In an interview with Xinhuanet, President Medina stated: “The Dominican Republic, which is situated in the heart of Central America and the Caribbean, boasts one of the region’s most well-connected port networks, as well as a highly trained work force in production, transport and logistics. I believe we are a natural ally for joining the Belt and Road Initiative as a regional center for trade between China and the rest of the Americas.”
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China in Strengthening Cooperation in Infrastructure.
Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Cooperation in Economic and Commercial Areas between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding in Mechanism of Cooperation between the Export-Import Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic. The Export-Import Bank of China is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank with the status of an independent legal entity. It is a bank directly under the leadership of the State Council and dedicated to supporting China’s foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation. With the Chinese government’s credit support, the Bank plays a crucial role in promoting steady economic growth and structural adjustment, supporting foreign trade, and implementing the “going global” strategy of the Chinese government.
Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding in Strategic Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic and the China Development Bank. CDB is the world’s largest development finance institution, and the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance. CDB provides medium- to long-term financing facilities that serve China’s major long-term economic and social development strategies.
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the Development of Human Resources between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the People’s Republic of China International Development Cooperation Agency. The agency is responsible for strategic guidelines and policies on foreign aid; coordinating and making suggestions on major related issues; reforming the foreign aid system; and making plans and overseeing their implementation. The move is to give full play to foreign aid as a key means of major-country diplomacy, enhance strategic planning and coordination of foreign aid, and better serve the country’s overall diplomatic layout and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Educational Plan between the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China for the years 2018-2023.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, in the Area of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. The ministry is responsible for the study and implementation of strategies, plans and policies on agriculture, rural areas and rural people, according to the plan on institutional restructuring of the State Council, or the cabinet. It also regulates crop farming, husbandry, fishery, agricultural mechanization and quality of farm produces.
Protocol of the Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Tobacco Leaves for Cigars from the Dominican Republic to the People’s Republic of China, between the Ministries of Agriculture of both countries. Cigars, together with rum and cacao, were mentioned as possible export products to the Chinese market.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic on the facilitation of group travel of Chinese tourists to the Dominican Republic. Frank Rainieri, of Puntacana Group, who was part of the mission to China, said the country would go after the Chinese middle class traveler.
Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Foreign Affairs of China and the Institute of Higher Education Specialized in Diplomatic and Consular Training (INESDyC).
Agreement between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People’s Republic of China Concerning Civilian Aviation Transport Services.
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Baseball Matters between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
Memorandum of Understanding of Sports Cooperation, between the General Sports Administration of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic.
Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation.
Agreement on the Mutual Exemption of Visas for Diplomatic Passport Holders, Official Passports, Services Passports and Public Affairs Passports.
Also mentioned is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Administrative Ministry of the President and the Center for Research on Public Safety of the University of Tsingua.
Medina also has stated the country, previous to the mission to China, had signed a Political Consultation Agreement “focused on working together at multilateral forums”.
In addition to these, earlier the government admitted to signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a mega port and power installations in Manzanillo, in the north coast of the country, and a political consultations agreement.
Read more:
Mirex
El Dia
Xinhuanet
Caribbean Council
5 November 2018
