I. Bilateral Political Relations

On May 28, 1976, the People's Republic of China formally established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Suriname. In May 1977, China set up its embassy in Suriname, and Suriname opened its embassy in China in Jan. 1998.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have carried fruitful cooperation in political, economic, military and cultural fields. In international affairs, the two countries always support each other and cooperate closely.

On Sept. 12-21, 1979, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname Heinemann and his wife visited China. Vice-Premier Geng Biao met with him while Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Wenjin held talks with him. It was the first official contact after the establishment of diplomatic relations.

On Dec. 18-20, 1984, Vice-Foreign Minister Han Xu paid a working visit to Suriname. President Misier, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Udenhout of Suriname met with Han. The Permanent Secretary of Foreign Ministry of Suriname Amman held talks twice with Han.

On April 22-25, 1986, Foreign Minister Herrenberg of Suriname visited China. Vice-Premier Wan Li and Secretary General of NPC Standing Committee Wang Hanbin met with him respectively. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian held talks with him. During the visit, the two sides signed an Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technical Cooperation.

From June 22 to July 1, 1987, Minister of Education, Science and Culture of Suriname Li Fuxiu visited China. Vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Zhou Gucheng met with the delegation. Cultural Minister Wang Meng and Deputy Director of the State Education Committee He Dongchang met with him and hosted a dinner in his honor respectively. On behalf on their respective governments, Li and Cultural Minister Wang Meng signed a Cultural Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname.

In June 1987, At the head of a Chinese Government Economic Delegation, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Lu Peijian went to Suriname to attend the completion and hand-over ceremony of the Gymnasium constructed with Chinese assistance. This project was the first large-scale project ever aided by China in Suriname, which won appreciation by the Surinamese Government and people from all walks of life.

On Feb. 21-24, 1990, Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Huaqiu paid a working visit to Suriname upon invitation. President Shankar, Vice-President and Chairman of Ministerial Meeting Alun met with him respectively. Foreign Minister Sedoc held talks with Liu. The two sides signed an exchange of notes on providing gratuitous assistance by the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Government of the Republic of Suriname.

On May 8-10, 1992, Surinamese Foreign Minister Subhas Mungra paid a working visit to China. Vice-Premier Wu Xueqian met with Mungra. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with him.

On July 6-10, 1993, Vice-Chairman Chen Muhua of NPC Standing Committee visited Surinam at the head of a NPC Delegation. President Venetiaan and Vice-President and Chairman of Counci of Ministers Adjodhia, Foreign Minister Mungra, and Mr. Sedoc, Minister of Planning, Development and Cooperation met with her respectively. Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon held talks with Chen.

On May 16-20, 1994, President Venetiaan of Suriname paid a state visit to China at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin. It was the first visit ever made by a head of state of Suriname to China with the aim to study and draw lessons from China's experience of reform and opening, and to expand economic and trade exchanges and cooperation. President Jiang Zemin held talks with President Venetiaan. The two presidents widely exchanged views on international situation, bilateral relations and Taiwan issue and briefed each other on their respective diplomatic policies. During the visit, the two sides signed an agreement on loans, an exchange of notes on providing some general goods by the Chinese government to Suriname, and an exchange of notes on postponing the reimbursement of China's loan for the construction of the gymnasium.

On August 22-29, 1994, Vice-Minister of Forest Wang Zhibao visited Suriname at the head of a Chinese Government Forestry Delegation. The delegation paid courtesy calls on the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Acting Foreign Minister, the Finance Minister, and held talks with the Minister of Natural Resources & Energy and signed a memorandum on forestry cooperation.

On August 10-14, 1995, Mr. Lachmon, Speaker of the National Assembly paid an official and friendly visit to China at the head of a Surinamese parliamentary delegation. It was the first Surinamese parliamentary delegation to visit China after the establishment of diplomatic ties. Chairman Qiao Shi and Vice-Chairman Chen Muhua of NPC Standing Committee met with him respectively. Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng also met with Lachmon and his delegation respectively.

From October 30 to November 3, 1995, Liu Shanzai, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation visited Suriname at the head of a Chinese Government Economic Delegation. Surinamese President Venetiaan and Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon met with the delegation. Mr. Liu held talks with the Foreign Minister and Acting Minister of Trade and Industry of Suriname Mongra.

On August 19-22, 1996, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Suriname. President Venetiaan, Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon and Minister of Defense Gilds met with him respectively. Foreign Minister of Suriname Mungra held talks with Li.

From Feb. 25 to March 6, 1997, Special Envoy of the Surinamese President and Chairman of National Democratic Party Desi Bouterse visited China. Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Vice-Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Chen Muhua met with him respectively. Vice- Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with Bouterse.

On May 18-22, 1998, Surinamese President Jules Wijdenbosch paid a state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. President Jiang held talks with Wijdenbosch. Premier Zhu Rongji met with him. During the visit, the two sides signed a Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname, an Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technical Cooperation, and a Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on China Providing a Preferential Loan to Suriname.

On Nov. 24-26, 2000, at the invitation of Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname, Chen Zhili, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government and Minister of Education, attended the ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Suriname.

On Dec. 22-24, 2000, at the invitation of the Foreign Ministry of Suriname, Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited Suriname. During his visit, Yang met with President Venetiaan and Speaker of the National Assembly Lachmon. He also held talks with Foreign Minister Levens.

On March 5-9 2001, Chairman of the Noble Truth Party of Suriname and Minister of Social Affairs and Housing Somohardjo conducted a business investigation on his private visit to Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

On Aug. 7-9, 2001, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang visited Suriname at the head of an Economic and Trade Delegation of the Chinese Government. During the visit, Vice-Minister Sun called on the Surinamese President and Speaker, and held talks with the Surinamese Foreign Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry respectively.

On Sept. 18-21, 2001, Vice-Chairman of Jilin CPPCC Liu Xilin visited Suriname at the head of a Jilin economic and trade delegation. During the visit, Vice-Chairman Liu called on the Surinamese Foreign Minister, Trade and Industry Minister, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Regional Development. He visited the Jisen Co., a Sino-Surinamese joint venture.

On March 12-23, 2002, Surinamese Trade and Industry Minister Zhang Zhenyou and his family visited China, trying to find the roots of his ancestral family. During their visit, Deputy-Governor of Guangdong Province Li Ronggen and Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei met with Zhang and his family respectively.

On March 24-27, 2002, Vice-President of China Council for International Trade Promotion Wan Jifei visited Suriname. During his visit, Wan called on the Surinamese President, Minister of Natural Resources and Foreign Secretary.

On July 9-12, 2002, at the invitation of the leading team office for bidding 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Secretary of Surinamese Foreign Ministry Limon visited Shanghai and Beijing. During his stay in Beijing, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation He Xiaowei met with him respectively, and Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong held talks with him.

On September 16, 2002, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held the first round of political consultation among the foreign ministries with Foreign Ministers of 8 Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China. After the meeting, Foreign Minister Tang met with Suriname Foreign Minister Maria Levens.

On September 11-13, 2002, Chinese Government Special Envoy, Vice-Mayor of Shanghai Jiang Sixian visited Suriname at the head of a Shanghai Delegation Bidding for the 2010 World Expo. Surinamese President Venetiaan and Foreign Minister Levens met with the delegation respectively.

On October 21-24, 2002, Deputy Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Cai Wu led a CPC delegation to visit Suriname. Surinames President Venetiaan, Vice-President Ajodhia and Foreign Minister Levens met with the delegation respectively.

On January 5-7, 2003, State Councilor Wu Yi visited Suriname. She met with Surinamese President Venetiaan and held talks with Vice-President Ajodhia.

II. Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations, Economic and Technological Cooperation

For a long period of time, there was only a small amount of export from China to Suriname and no import to China from Suriname. In recent years, the trade volume has increased. China mainly exports mechanical and electrical equipment, textile, products of light industry, hardware, and food and cereal. China imports timber, bauxite etc. In 2002, bilateral trade volume totaled $17.81 million, with China's export at $15.15 million and import at $2.56 million.

The main projects of technical cooperation are: gymnasium, electricity transmission line, airport cold storage, low price housing projects and management skill of gymnasium, marsh gas technical cooperation, technology of generating electricity with rice husk and coal gas and technology of freshwater shrimp farm etc.

III. Cultural and Military Exchanges and Cooperation

(1) Cultural Cooperation

Before the establishment of diplomatic ties, cultural exchanges already existed between the two countries. These exchanges have become more frequent since the establishment of diplomatic ties. The year 1978 saw the signing of a governmental cultural agreement.

On July 21-24, 1998, Vice-Cultural Minister Ai Qingchun visited Suriname at the head of a Chinese Government Cultural Delegation. It was the first Chinese governmental cultural delegation to visit Suriname after the establishment of diplomatic relations. President Wijdenbosch, Speaker of the National Assembly Djwaslapersad, Foreign Minister Pieekhan and National Adviser Bouterse met with the delegation respectively. Ai also held talks with his counterpart.

On April 4-10, 2002, at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture, Surinamese Minister of Education and People's Development Sandriman visited China. Vice-Chairman Behe of NPC Standing Committee and Minister of Education Chen Zhili met with the delegation respectively. Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng held working talks with Sandriman.

China once sent acrobatic troupes, art troupes, and song and dance troupes to Suriname to visit and perform. Exhibitions of Chinese paintings, photos and handcrafts were also put on show.

(2) Military Exchanges

Surinamese Defense Ministers Gilds, Panday and Assen visited China respectively in March 1996, March 1999 and April 2001.

In June 1998, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the PLA Lt. General Kui Fulin visited Suriname.

In July 2002, Vice-President of the Defense University Major General Chen Zhangyuan visited Surinam at the head of an inspection team of the PLA. During his visit, Chen met with Surinamese Minister of Defense and Commander of the National Defense Forces.

IV. Important Bilateral Agreements

(1) Joint Communique between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, signed in New York on May 28, 1976, by Chinese Acting Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Lai Yali and Surinamese Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Haidewejle.

(2) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Loan Provided by China to Suriname in the Construction of a Gymnasium, signed in Paramaribo on September 7, 1984, by Charge d'Affaires a.i. Yang Daqun of the Chinese Embassy in Suriname and Surinamese Minister of Financial Planning Chehin.

(3) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Beijing on April 24, 1986, by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and Surinamese Foreign Minister Herrenberg.

(4) Cultural Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname, signed in Beijing on June 25, 1987, by Culture Minister Wang Meng and Surinamese Minister of Education, Science and Culture Li Fixiu.

(5) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Paramaribo on October 12, 1990, by Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Li Yan and Surinamese Foreign Minister Sedoc.

(6) Agreement on Loan between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname, signed in Beijing on May 16, 1994, by Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Zhenyu and Surinamese Foreign Minister Mungra.

(7) Exchange of Notes concerning providing a batch of general goods by the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Government of the Republic of Suriname, (ditto)

(8) Exchange of Notes concerning postponing the reimbursement of Chinese loan in the construction of a gymnasium in Suriname, (ditto)

(9) Exchange of Notes between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname concerning Mutual Exemption of Visa between Hong Kong SAR and Suriname, confirmed on February 17, 1997, by Chinese Embassy in Suriname and the Surinamese Foreign Ministry through the exchange of notes.

(10) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Paramaribo on September 26, 1997, by Chinese Ambassador to Suriname Li Jianying and Surinamese Foreign Minister Errol Snijders.

(11) Trade Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname, signed in Beijing on May 18, 1998, by Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Zhenyu and Surinamese Foreign Minister Snijders.

(12) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname, (ditto).

(13) Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on China Providing Suriname with a Preferential Loan, (ditto).

(14) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Paramaribo on December 24, 1999, by Chinese Ambassador to Suriname Li Jianying and Surianamese Foreign Minister Snijders.

(15) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Paramaribo on August 8, 2001, by Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang and Surinamese Foreign Minister Levens.

(16) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Beijing on July 10, 2002, by Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong and Surinamese Permanent Secretary of Foreign Ministry Ewald Limon .

(17) Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Suriname on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed in Paramaribo on January 6, 2003, by State Council Wu Yi and Surinamese Vice-President Ajodhia.