I. Bilateral Political Relations

On Sept. 1, 1997, the People's Republic of China established formal diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia. On the same day, China opened its embassy in Saint Lucia. St. Lucia has not yet set up its embassy in China.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have developed steadily. Exchange of high-level visits are increasing, economic and trade cooperation progressing smoothly and people-to-people exchanges starting.

In international affairs, the two countries show mutual understanding for and support each other.

Sept. 5-11, 1997, Foreign Minister George Odlum of Saint Lucia paid a visit to China. It was the first visit from Saint Lucia since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Premier Li Peng met with Odlum, while Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with him.

On Sept. 22, 1997, Premier Li Peng met with Saint Lucian Prime Minister Kenny Anthony in Hong Kong when attending the Annual Conference of World Bank.

From August 28 to Sept. 4, 1998, the first deputy leader of Saint Lucian Labor Party and Deputy Prime Minister Mario Michel visited China at the head of the Labor Party Delegation. Vice-President Hu Jintao met with the delegation, while Head (minister) of the International Liaison Department of CPC Central Committee Dai Bingguo held talks with Michel. The visit promoted the development of bilateral relations and deepened the mutual understanding and cooperation of the two parties.

On September 3, 1998, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with Foreign Minister Odlum when attending the 12th Summit of nonaligned countries. The two ministers exchanged views on international issues of common concern.

On Sept. 8-11, 1998, a Chinese Government delegation headed by Yang Wensheng, Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, visited Saint Lucia. During the visit, Yang met with the Governor-General, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other officials. Together with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Yang attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the administrative office building and warehouses within the Free Trade Zone with Chinese assistance. Yang and Minister Odlum signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the two governments.

From Jan 31 to Feb 6, 1999, Prime Minister Kenny Anthony paid a visit to China. It was the first visit ever made by the head of government of Saint Lucian to China since the establishment of diplomatic ties. It was also the highest level visit in bilateral exchanges. President Jiang Zemin and Chairman Li Peng of NPC Standing Committee met with Anthony respectively. Premier Zhu Rongji held talks with him. During the visit, the two sides signed the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation and the exchange of notes concerning providing gratuitous assistance by the government of China to the government of Saint Lucia.

On March 22-25, 2000, Deputy Head of the International Liaison Department of CPC Central Committee Liu Jing-qin visited Saint Lucia. Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, Deputy Prime Minister Mario Michel, Foreign Minister George Odlum and President of the Senate of St. Lucia met with Liu Jingqin respectively.

On July 30, 2001, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of St. Lucia sent a message to the Chinese embassy in St. Lucia, congratulating China's successful bidding for hosting 2008 Olympic games.

On Aug. 14-17, 2001, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang visited St. Lucia at the head of a Chinese economic and trade delegation. During the visit, Vice-Minister Sun Called on Acting Prime Minister Michel, Foreign Minister Hunt, Minister of Industry and Commerce Pierrer and met with personalities from the industrial and business circles. On behalf of their respective governments, Vice-Minister Sun and Foreign Minister Hunt signed an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between China and St. Lucia.

On July 7-12, 2002, St. Lucian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation Julian Hunt visited China. Vice-Premier Qian Qichen met with him. Foreign Minister Tang held talks with him. During the visit, the two sides signed an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between China and St. Lucia.

On July 24-26, 2002, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Ma Xiuhong visited St. Lucia at the head of a Chinese economic and trade delegation. During the visit, Sun attended the completion ceremony of the stadium built with Chinese assistance. On behalf of their respective governments, Vice-Minister Ma and the Prime Minister of St. Lucia signed the hand-over certificates of the stadium.

On Sept. 1, 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan respectively exchanged messages with Prime Minister of St. Lucia Anthony and Foreign Minister Hunt, congratulating on the 5th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and St. Lucia.

On September 7-11, 2002, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government, Vice Mayor of Shanghai Jiang Sixian headed a delegation to visit Saint Lucia. The delegation called on Minister of Commerce Pierre, Vice Mayor of Castries and Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Rochardson.

On September 17-19, 2002, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong visited St. Lucia at the head of a delegation. During the visit, Zhou called on Prime Minister of St. Lucia Anthony and President of the House of Assembly Roberts. He held talks with Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation Richardson and signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the two countries.

On January 14-16, 2003, State Councilor Wu Yi visited Saint Lucia. During the visit, She met with Governor General Louisy and Deputy Prime Minister Michel and held talks with Prime Minister Anthony.

II. Economic and Trade Relations, Economic and Technical Cooperation

According to the statistics of General Administration of Customs of China, Sino-Saint Lucia trade volume in 2002 totaled $2.69 million, all of which were exports from China. The main products exported to Saint Lucia were light industrial products, building material and so on.

The main economic and technical cooperation projects are the administrative office building and warehouses within the Free Trade Zone, the agricultural technical cooperation and gymnasium.

On Feb. 16, 2000, at the request of the government of Saint Lucia, the Chinese government donated colored flags valued $68,000 for the celebration activities of the 21st anniversary of the Independence of Saint Lucia.

On March 26-29, 2000, Vice-President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Wan Jifei visited Saint Lucia at the head of Chinese entrepreneurs' delegation. They contacted with local business circles and met with Foreign Minister Odlum.

On May 25-27, 2000, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang visited Saint Lucia at the head of a Chinese government economic and trade delegation. During the visit, Vice-Minister Sun attended the Completion Ceremony of the project of the Administration Office Building and Warehouses in the Free Trade Zone constructed with Chinese assistance. Vice-Minister Sun and Odlum, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Lucia, on behalf of their respective governments, signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation.

On October 16, 2001, the Chinese Government dispatched six technical personnel to Saint Lucia to implement the third term of agricultural technical cooperation project, for a period of one year.

On March 15, 2002, Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the Chinese Embassy in Saint Lucia Chen Zhi and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Julius Polius signed the Summary of Talks on Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project (third term) in Saint Lucia, for a period of one year.

III. Exchanges in Cultural and other Fields

On Sept 2-7, 1998, a Chinese acrobatic troupe went to Saint Lucia for a friendly visit at the invitation of the Saint Lucian Ministry of Culture.

From Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, 1998, at the invitation of Qingdao Municipal Government, Owan John, Mayor of Castries, capital of Saint Lucia, visited China at the head of a Castries City delegation. During the visit, the two sides discussed the possibility of establishing cities of friendship.

On August 25-31, 2000, Chief Press Officer of the Press Office of Saint Lucia Government Ross Harris and journalist Tony Williams of the Crusader visited China.

On November 7-15, 2002, senior reporter Micah George of the largest newspaper the Voice of Saint Lucia came to China to cover the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He wrote several articles about the Congress and praised the achievement of China's reform, opening up and economic construction.

IV. Important Bilateral Agreements

(1) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Grant by the Chinese Government to the Text-book Foundation of Saint Lucia, signed in Castries on July 29, 1997, by Chinese Ambassador to UN Qin Huasun and Saint Lucian Foreign Minister Odlum.

(2) Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of China and Saint Lucia on the normalization of relations between the two countries, (ditto).

(3) Joint Communique between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, signed in Castries on September 1, 1997, by Chinese Ambassador to the UN Qin Huasun and Saint Lucia Foreign Minister Odlum.

(4) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation, (ditto).

(5) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation, signed in Castries on September 11, 1998, by Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Yang Wensheng and Saint Lucia Foreign Minister Odlum.

(6) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation, signed in Beijing on Februay 1, 1999, by Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng and Saint Lucia Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Odlum.

(7) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation, signed in Castries by Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang and Saint Lucia Foreign Minister Odlum during Sun's visit to Saint Lucia on May 25-27, 2000.

(8) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation, signed in Castries by Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang and Saint Lucia Foreign Minister Hunte during Sun's visit to Saint Lucia on August 14-17, 2001.

(9) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Saint Lucia on Economic and Technical Cooperation, signed in Beijing by Saint Lucia Foreign Minister Hunte and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan during Hunte's visit to China on July 9-12, 2002.