Chinese, Jamaican leaders mark 40th anniversary of ties

BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao exchanged messages with Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller Wednesday to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message, Wen said the bilateral friendly relations and cooperation had been developed and consolidated over the past 40 years, especially since the establishment of a friendly partnership of common development in 2005.

He said the two countries had deepened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in fields such as the economy and trade, finance, infrastructure and culture.

The two countries had also maintained good communication and coordination on international affairs, Wen said.

Friendly China-Jamaica relations were in the fundamental interest of both nations and peoples, he said.

China was willing to work with Jamaica to further strengthen the friendly cooperation in various fields and promote the comprehensive and in-depth development of bilateral relations, he said.

Miller, for his part, said cooperation between Jamaica and China in various fields had been continuously deepened since the establishment of diplomatic ties, benefiting both governments and peoples.

Jamaica was willing to promote mutually beneficial relations with China based on the achievements of the 40-year bilateral cooperation, she said.

Also on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi exchanged congratulatory messages with Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Arnold Nicholson.