China and the Central American country of Barbados signed an agreement on economics and technology cooperation yesterday, broadening the 31-year-old bilateral relations.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Ma Xiuhong and Christopher Sinckler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and International Business, signed the agreement at the Great Hall of the People. Premier Wen Jiabao and his visiting Barbados counterpart David Thompson witnessed the ceremony.

Ma and Sinckler also signed an exchange of letters. No details of the documents were released.

Thompson arrived in Beijing on Monday at the start of a four-day official visit to China.

During a 40-minute meeting between the two prime ministers, Thompson reiterated his country would resolutely continue the one-China policy.

The Taiwan authorities had tried to take advantage of the Barbados general election held on Jan 15, which shifted power from the Barbados Labor Party to the Democratic Labor Party for the first time in 14 years, to spoil diplomatic ties between China and the Caribbean country.

But the Thompson government announced after its inauguration that Barbados will adhere to the one-China policy and will not establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

"Barbados has enjoyed an excellent relationship with China and we have confidence that it will continue," Thompson said.

He thanked China for its help in his country's economic and social development.

He said his country fully supports the Beijing's Olympic Games. And, it supports China's entry into the American Development Bank, and is willing to promote China's relations with the Caribbean community,

Wen said China would like to join hands with Barbados to deepen cooperation in areas of trade, tourism, architecture, and cultural exchange.

(China Daily 05/07/2008 page3)