On February 21, 2019, the seventh round of consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean countries which have diplomatic relations with China was held in Beijing. The Caribbean countries represented at the consultations were Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Jamaica, the Republic of Suriname and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang co-chaired the consultations with Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Francine Baron of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The two sides made positive comments on the sound development between China and the Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China in recent years and reached extensive consensus on deepening political mutual trust, promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and enhancing cooperation in various fields covering economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement as well as international and regional affairs. The two sides expressed deep concern over the current situation in Venezuela and agreed that Venezuela's sovereignty should be respected and Venezuelan affairs should be decided by the Venezuelan people themselves. They opposed external interference in Venezuela's internal affairs or threat of use of force, and called on the international community to continue to promote peace talks and play a constructive role in promoting a peaceful political settlement of the Venezuelan issue. After the consultations, the two sides issued the Joint Press Communiqué of the Seventh Round of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean Countries Having Diplomatic Relations with China.