Zhang Yanhui.
Located in the northern part of Central America, El Salvador is known as the "Land of Volcanoes", with a unique landscape and industrious people. In August 2018, China established diplomatic relations with El Salvador, opening the door to bilateral cooperation. In December 2019, President Bukele of El Salvador, who paid his first state visit to China, held talks and reached a broad consensus to draw up a blueprint for the development of bilateral relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Samoa relations have developed rapidly in an all-round way, and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the local people, fully proving that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa is in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and two peoples.
Practical cooperation between China and Samoa in various fields has been deepened. In 2023, the bilateral value will exceed US$1.8 billion. El Salvador actively participates in the China International Import Expo, and the country's high-quality agricultural products such as coffee and cane sugar enter the Chinese market. More and more Chinese products are also entering the lives of Salvadoran people. Samoa actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, and will send a high-level delegation to China in 2023 to participate in the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. El Salvador joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, injecting new impetus into the cooperation between China and El Salvador. The two sides are committed to strengthening cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, quality inspection, energy, water conservancy, science and technology, etc., to create bright spots in people's livelihood and better benefit the people of the two countries.
In November 2023, the National Library of El Salvador, the first project to be delivered after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa, was officially opened. The library has become a new landmark and popular spot in the capital city of San Salvador, with many locals queuing early in the morning to visit the library, which has received more than 300,000 visitors since its opening. Many Salvadoran people also choose to come here to take wedding photos and freeze the important moments of life. The modern, convenient and versatile National Library has won the hearts of the Salvadoran people and has become a monument to the friendship between the two countries. More and more Salvadoran people believe that China is a good friend and trustworthy partner at hand.
The friendship between the peoples of China and Samoa has become even stronger. At an event, I got acquainted with Carolina, an importer from El Salvador. She has lived and worked in Yiwu, Zhejiang, China for 15 years, shipping several containers of Chinese goods to El Salvador every week. Her son lives in China, her granddaughter studies in China, speaks fluent Chinese, and loves Chinese culture. The Carolina family's relationship with China is the epitome of Sino-Samoa friendship. In 2019, the Confucius Institute was established in El Salvador, setting off a boom in Chinese learning in the region. At present, more than 200 young Salvadoran students have gone to China for further study. Many Salvadoran friends have a strong interest in Chinese literary masterpieces such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Journey to the West", as well as books, film and television works about China. Last year, El Salvador's first "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Chinese Competition for College Students was successfully held. The local cooperation between the two countries is impressive. Beijing, Hangzhou and San Salvador have carried out various forms of sister-city cooperation, and last year Xiamen and Metapan became sister exchange cities to carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of medical care and education.
China-Samoa relations have a promising future and bright prospects. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than five years ago, the two countries have continuously deepened mutual understanding and trust, laying a solid foundation for greater development of bilateral relations in the future. El Salvador has actively responded to the President's proposal to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and is one of the first members of the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative". The two countries have become more closely communicating and coordinating in international and regional affairs. Both sides support strengthening the global partnership for development, taking concrete actions to promote the building of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Not long ago, the Chinese Embassy in El Salvador and the Ministry of Culture of El Salvador jointly held a celebration of the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon at the National Library of El Salvador. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, China and Samoa will continue to enhance political mutual trust, expand friendly exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, and write a new chapter in China-Samoa relations featuring mutual benefit and win-win results, so as to better benefit the two countries and peoples.
The author is the Chinese ambassador to El Salvador).
People** 2024-03-01 03 Edition).