China’s embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe was reopened on Monday after being closed for nearly 19 years, at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communities of São Tomé, Urbino Botelho and Chinese business attaché, Wang Wei.

The reopening of the Chinese embassy in São Tomé and Príncipe, which took place just over three months after the archipelago re-established diplomatic relations with the country, replacing Taiwan, and a few days after the country was formally admitted to the Forum for Economic and Trade and Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries as a full member.

“The Chinese government attaches great importance to developing relations with São Tomé and Príncipe and would like to deepen pragmatic cooperation in all areas, based on the One China principle and mutual respect,” said the Chinese diplomat.

Wang Wei added that China is willing to support, within its capabilities, São Tomé and Príncipe’s efforts towards economic and social development, improving the welfare of its people and its capacity for self sustainable development.

At the end of April, the Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe, Patrice Trovoada, is scheduled to visit China, an occasion that is expected to be marked by the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two countries. (macauhub)