The second China-Caribbean and South Pacific Countries High-Level Defense Forum kicked off in the College of Defense Studies under the National Defense University (NDU) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on the morning of June 29, 2015.
Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the PLA, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Sun Jianguo said that China and the Caribbean and South Pacific countries, all of which belong to the developing countries, have extensive common interests and cooperation basis in safeguarding the regional and world peace and stability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping successfully visited the Caribbean and South Pacific countries in June 2013 and November 2014 respectively, pointing out the direction and injecting new driving power for the development of the bilateral relations, Sun Jianguo added.
Under the joint efforts of both sides, the state and military relations between China and the Caribbean and South Pacific countries have been developing steadily, Sun Jianguo continued.
Sun expressed that China is willing to make joint efforts with the Caribbean and South Pacific countries to push forward the healthy, stable, continuous and in-depth development of the military-to-military relations so as to make positive contributions to the regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.
Trevor Thomas, chief of staff of the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (RABDF), delivered a speech on behalf of the members of the forum.
Thomas said that the relations between China and the Caribbean and South Pacific countries have been developing in the direction of comprehensive cooperation. The forum provides an opportunity to know more about the Chinese people and Chinese military, and will play a constructive role in the national security and development of the armed forces of the participating countries, Thomas added.
The forum is scheduled to conclude on July 8. Military or defense department leaders from 13 Caribbean and South Pacific countries are invited to attend the forum.
