I. Bilateral Political Relations

On January 1, 1983, China formerly established diplomatic relations with Antigua and Barbuda. Since then, bilateral friendly relations have been developing smoothly characterized by constant exchanges. High level mutual visits have deepened mutual understanding and friendly relations and cooperation.

Important Mutual Visits

(1) Visit to China by Prime Minister Bird of Antigua and Barbuda. In July 1983, at the invitation of the Chinese Government, Prime Minister Bird paid a visit to China. Chinese President Li Xiannian accorded him a courtesy meeting. Chinese Premier held talks with him and praised highly the efforts made by the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda under the leadership of Prime Minister Bird to firmly safeguard the national independence and sovereignty, to develop national economy and cultural undertakings, and to pursue a foreign policy of independence in international affairs. At the request of Bird, Chinese Premier gave a brief account of the independent foreign policy of peace of China and its views on the current international situation.

Bird expressed thanks for China's support of Antigua and Barbuda in UN Security Council's acceptance of Antigua and Barbuda as a member state of UN. Bird considered China as a stable force not to be ignored under the disturbing world situation, hoping that China would continue its support to and cooperation with the third world countries, thus making the two countries a good example of common development between big and small countries on the basis of mutual respect. Bird said that it was a correct decision of the Antigua and Barbuda's government to recognize P. R. of China. China's population and strength had proved that China was an important stable force in the world. China's population accounting for one forth of the world total population, no countries in the world could neglect its role.

During the visit, the two governments exchanged notes concerning the Chinese Government providing grant to the Antigua and Barbuda's government.

(2) In December 1984, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Han Xu paid a working visit to Antigua and Barbuda. Governor-General Jacobs and Prime Minister Bird met with Han respectively. Deputy Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Lester Bird met with him and held a dinner in his honor. During the visit, Vice-Foreign Minister Han Xu conveyed the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian to Lester Bird for a visit to China.

(3) In June 1985, at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Lester Bird paid an official visit to China. Chinese Premier met with Bird. Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian held talks with the delegation. Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on major international issues, the situation of the Caribbean, and the further improvement of the bilateral relations. Both sides expressed their utmost satisfaction over the smooth development of the bilateral relations, holding that such relations were built on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and their development accorded with the fundamental interests of the two countries.

Bird said that China was one of those countries that had established diplomatic relations early with Antigua and Barbuda. There were a couple of reasons for a small member country in the UN such as Antigua and Barbuda to established diplomatic relations with China, a most-populated country in the world. The reasons were as follows: China's adherence to the principle of non-interference into other countries' internal affaires; its respect for the sovereignty and territory integrity of any countries either big or small; and its sincere assistance to other developing countries without attaching any additional conditions. Antigua and Barbuda also understood the aspiration of the Chinese government for peaceful reunification of the country. Therefore, Antigua and Barbuda favored the Chinese government's solution of the Hong Kong issue through negotiations and looked forward to the peaceful unification of the entire China. He expressed the belief that a strong and unified China dedicated to world peace would certainly play a great role in maintaining the welfare of the entire mankind.

During the visit, the two governments signed an exchange of notes on providing gratuitous assistance to the Antigua and Barbuda's government by the Chinese government. Bird expressed again his thanks for the Chinese assistance to Antigua and Barbuda.

(4) In May 1986, Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Lu Xuejian visited Antigua and Barbuda at the head of a Chinese government economic delegation. Liu held talks with Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Lester Bird on bilateral economic and technological cooperation. The two sides singed a protocol on using the grant provided by the Chinese Government to Antigua and Barbuda.

(5) In 1988, Assistant Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Wang Wendong visited Antigua and Barbuda and held talks with Prime Minister Bird on bilateral relations and economic and technological cooperation. The two sides signed an Agreement between the Chinese Government and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on Economic and Technological Cooperation.

(6) In February 1990, Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Huaqui paid a working visit upon invitation to Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister Bird met him and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lester Bird held talks and exchange views with him on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern. On behalf of their respective governments, the two sides signed an exchange of notes on providing gratuitous assistance to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda by the Chinese Government.

(7) The visit to China by Minister Williams of Economic Development, Industry and Tourism. In July 1991, at the invitation of Minister Li Lanqing of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, Minister Williams of Economic Development, Industry and Tourism visited China at the head of an economic delegation of the government of Antigua and Barbuda. Vice-Premier Wu Xueqian and Minister Li Lanqing met with the delegation respectively. Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Huaqiu met with and gave a dinner to the delegation. Vice-Minister of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Wang Wendong held working talks. The two sides signed an agreement on special loan provided by China to Antigua and Barbuda for construction of an exhibition center, banking arrangement on accounting procedure and a project design contract.

(8) In July 1992, at the invitation of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, a Chinese Government Delegation, with Secretary General of the State Council Luo Gan as the head and Assistant Minister Tian Renzhi of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade as the deputy head, paid an official visit to Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister Bird met with the delegation. Secretary General Luo Gan exchanged views respectively with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lester Bird and Financial Minister Joseph on international situation and bilateral relations, especially on further development of bilateral economic and technological cooperation. The delegation also signed respectively with Antigua Prime Minister and Foreign Minister an Agreement and Exchange of Notes on the Economic and Technological Cooperation between China and Antigua and Barbuda.

(9). In April 1996, Assistant Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi paid a working visit to Antigua and Barbuda upon invitation. Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bird accorded him a dinner and presided over talks on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern. On behalf of their respective governments, the two sides signed an exchange of notes on providing gratuitous assistance to the Antigua and Barbuda's government by the Chinese Government. Mr. Yang also met with President of the Senate Percival and Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Thomas and Murdock during his visit.

(10) In October 1997, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Peng, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lester Bird paid an official visit to China. During the visit, Premier Li Peng held talks with Prime Minister Bird. Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Qiao Shi, CPPCC Chairman Li Ruihuan and Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen met with Bird respectively. Premier Li Peng and Prime Minister Bird signed on behalf of their respective governments a Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on Preferential and Subsidized Loan Provided by China to Antigua and Barbuda and an Exchange of Notes on providing gratuitous assistance by the Chinese government to the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

(11) On April 10, 2000, the new Chinese Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda Yang Shixiang presented his Letter of Credence to Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda Carlisle.

(12) On Nov. 21-23, 2000, Minister of Education Chen Zhili visited Antigua and Barbuda. During her visit, Minister Chen called on Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda Carlisle and Prime Minister Bird respectively. Chen also held talks with her counterpart, Minister Williams.

(13) On July 6-17, 2001, Vice-Governor Wang Xianmin of Heilongjiang Province led an economic and trade delegation to visit Antigua and Barbuda. During the visit, the delegation called on Prime Minister Bird and held a press conference on inviting outside investment into Heilongjiang.

(14) On Aug. 12-14, 2001, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang led a trade and economic delegation to visit Antigua and Barbuda. Acting Governor General Mme Maginley and Prime Minister Bird met with the delegation respectively. On behalf of their respective governments, Vice-Minister Sun and Prime Minister Bird signed an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the governments of China, and Antigua and Barbuda. Sport Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Yearwood and Vice-Minister Sun held talks.

(15) On June 17-25, 2002, Colonel Thomas, Commander of Antigua and Barbuda national defense force, led a military delegation to pay an official visit to China. It was the first visit to China by the military leader of Antigua and Barbuda since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

(16) July 19-27, 2002, at the invitation of Foreign Ministry of China, Permanent Secretary of Foreign Ministry of Antigua and Barbuda Mr. Murdock and his wife visited China. During the visit, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei met with Murdock respectively. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhou Wenzhong held talks with him. Apart from Beijing, Murdock and his wife also visited Xi'an and Shanghai.

(17) On September 5-7, 2002, at the invitation of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Chinese Government Special Envoy, Vice-Mayor of Shanghai Jiang Sixian led a Shanghai delegation bidding for World Expo to pay a friendly visit to Antigua and Barbuda.

(18) On January 15-17, 2003, State Councilor Wu Yi led a Chinese Government Delegation to pay an official and friendly visit to Antigua and Barbuda. Mme Wu held formal talks with Prime Minister Bird and called on Governor General Carlisle. During the visit, the two sides signed an agreement on economic and technological cooperation and exchange of notes concerning the transformation of a cricket entertainment ground.

II. Economic and Trade Relations, Economic and Technological Cooperation

The main areas of cooperation: agriculture, laboratory, and education facilities (mainly providing facilities and technical assistance), Creekside Bridge, Multi-Purpose Exhibition Centre, Greencastle Stock Station, Drainage, power transmission line, transformation of the highway at Dark Wood section and other whole set facilities. Besides, there are agricultural and power technological cooperations.

Bilateral trade volume is rather small. According to the statistics of China General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade volume in 2002 totaled $2.95 million, rising year-on-year by 63.9%, all of which were Chinese exports.

III. Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation

The Dalian Children Acrobatics Team and China Acrobatics Troupe visited Antigua and Barbuda in September 1996 and in June 1998 respectively.

IV. Important Agreements and Documents

(1) Joint Communique between the People's Republic of China and Antigua and Barbuda on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations (December 22, 1981).

(2) Agreement on Economic and Technological Cooperation Concerning Providing Loan by the Chinese Government to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (December 8, 1988).

(3) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on the Construction of an Exhibition Center with Chinese Assistance (July, 1991).

(4) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on Economic and Technological Cooperation (July 24, 1992).

(5) Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on Providing Subsidized Loan by China to Antigua and Barbuda (October, 1997).

(6) Agreement between China and Antigua and Barbuda on Economic and Technological Cooperation (January, 2003).

(7) Exchange of Notes between China and Antigua and Barbuda concerning transformation of the project of cricket entertainment ground (ditto).