Barbados and China discuss UN Reform

Reform of the United Nations (UN) was one of the main issues discussed recently when a delegation from the People's Republic of China met with Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dame Billie Miller.

The delegation was headed by Chinese Vice Minister of the International Department of the Chinese People's Congress (CPC) Central Committee, Ma Wenpu. Also attending the meeting was Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, Liu Huanxing and the Permanent Secretary and head of the Barbados Foreign Service, Teresa Marshall.

Dame Billie said Barbados, through the regional grouping of CARICOM was supportive of United Nations reform but would seek to ensure that the process was beneficial to small island developing economies and that the interests of such countries would be properly advanced.

She believes that the interests of developing nations can be adequately protected in multilateral fora such as the Word Trade Organisation and the United Nations but she encouraged smaller nations to be active participants in these processes to ensure that their interests were advanced.

With regard to ties between the two countries, Vice Minister Ma said the Chinese government placed great importance on its relations with Barbados, citing the country a critical player in the region and in international affairs.

He also thanked Barbados for its support of the One China Policy, adding that he was pleased that both countries shared similar views on UN reform.

Mr. Ma stressed Chinas support for the development of small and medium sized economies and vowed to continue efforts to forge closer relations.

Barbados established diplomatic relations with China in May 1977.