On the afternoon of May 14, 2018, Premier Li Keqiang held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, who was in China for an official visit.

Li Keqiang expressed that Trinidad and Tobago was among the first countries in the Caribbean region to establish diplomatic relations with China. President Xi Jinping successfully visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2013, and both countries established the comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. The Chinese government attaches importance to developing relations with Trinidad and Tobago, and is willing to, together with Trinidad and Tobago, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, so as to promote bilateral relations to a new level.

Li Keqiang pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago is China’s largest trade partner in the English-speaking Caribbean region. Both countries enjoy high economic complementarities and broad cooperation prospects. China is willing to integrate the “Belt and Road” initiative with the development strategies of Trinidad and Tobago to boost cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction, energy, finance and agriculture. China encourages its enterprises to invest and develop business in Trinidad and Tobago in accordance with market principles and business rules, and stands ready to continue providing support for Trinidad and Tobago within its capacity, and helping Trinidad and Tobago develop its economy and improve people’s livelihood. The two countries should take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year as an opportunity to expand bilateral exchanges in education, culture, sports, tourism and other fields, and elevate the level of visa facilitation between the two countries to promote personnel exchanges.

Li Keqiang stressed that China, Latin American and Caribbean countries are all developing countries, and they provide development opportunities for each other. The relations between China and Latin America, and relations between China and the Caribbean are important parts of South-South cooperation. Strengthening cooperation among these countries not only accords with their common interests, but helps to safeguard stability and prosperity in the region and the world. It is hoped that Trinidad and Tobago would continue playing its constructive role in promoting the development of relations between China and Latin America, and relations between China and the Caribbean.

Keith Rowley expressed that Trinidad and Tobago and China enjoy traditional friendly relations. Bilateral relations have maintained sound development momentum and enjoyed broad prospects since the establishment of diplomatic relations. As one of the first countries in the Caribbean region to establish diplomatic relations with China, Trinidad and Tobago firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and is willing to further consolidate political foundation of bilateral relations and enhance practical cooperation, in a bid to achieve common development. Keith Rowley thanks China’s strong support to his country over the years. Trinidad and Tobago enjoys prominent regional advantages and abundant resources, and is promoting economic diversification and vigorously developing tourism, which provides opportunities and possibilities for expanding bilateral trade and investment and advancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Trinidad and Tobago is ready to further enhance practical cooperation with China in such areas as the “Belt and Road”, medical treatment and public health and finance to elevate bilateral relations to new highs.

Prior to the talks, Li Keqiang held a welcoming ceremony for Keith Rowley at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.

After the talks, Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Keith Rowley jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as economic and technical cooperation, medical treatment and public health as well as human resources.

Vice Chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference He Lifeng and Su Hui, as well as others attended the relevant activities.

On that morning, Keith Rowley went to the Tian’anmen Square to lay a wreath to the Monument to the People’s Heroes.