BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that the China-Suriname friendship has a long history and has stood the test of time, Xi said Suriname was one of the first Caribbean countries to establish diplomatic ties with China, establish a strategic partnership with China and sign the Belt and Road cooperation plan with China.

The two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, becoming a model of South-South cooperation, he said, adding that China is willing to work with Suriname to further consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, step up international coordination, and push for a closer China-Suriname strategic cooperative partnership to better benefit the two peoples.