Chinese president meets with Sierra Leonean president

（Xinhua）  08:17, June 27, 2013  

BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Surinamese President Desi Bouterse.

Bouterse is visiting Beijing to attend the second annual World Peace Forum, a non-governmental high-level forum on international security that is scheduled for June 27 and 28.

Xi said bilateral exchanges and cooperation have seen remarkable progress since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 37 years ago.

Xi said China is ready to work with Suriname to maintain high-level contacts and enhance mutual trust in order to boost bilateral cooperation.

Xi said both sides should boost cooperation in the areas of infrastructure construction, energy and resource exploitation, agriculture, forestry, fishery and environmental protection.

The Chinese government encourages competitive enterprises to invest in Suriname, he said, adding that the two countries should further improve their trade and investment environments and offer legal guarantees for bilateral cooperation.

He said both sides should enhance cooperation in human resources and organize different types of people-to-people exchanges to cement a social foundation for bilateral relations.

The two countries should strengthen coordination on multilateral issues, enhance dialogue on climate change and jointly safeguard the rights and interests of both countries, he said.

Xi said China will view its relations with Caribbean countries from a strategic height and is willing to forge comprehensive and cooperative partnerships with Caribbean countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development.

Suriname will take up the rotating presidency of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in the second half of the year.

Xi said he hopes Suriname will continue to exert a positive influence in promoting relations between China and Caribbean countries, as well as China and Latin America.

Bouterse congratulated China on the successful completion of the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft mission.

He said the two countries have conducted effective political and economic cooperation.

China has provided support and assistance to Caribbean countries, including Suriname, which has effectively promoted the economic and social development of these countries, he said.

Suriname is ready to expand cooperation with China, he said, adding that the country will work with China to boost bilateral ties, as well as China's ties with Caribbean countries and Latin American countries, he said.

After the meeting, Xi and Bouterse attended a signing ceremony for a series of cooperative agreements.