On May 26, 2026, H.E. Lin Ji, Chinese Ambassador to Suriname, published a signed article titled "Jointly Forge a Brighter Future for China-Suriname Relations" in the major Surinamese newspaper, Starnews. The full text is as follows:
On May 28, 1976, China and Suriname formally established diplomatic relations, opening a new chapter of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations. Located in northern South America, Suriname is geographically distant from China with distinct national conditions. Over the past half century, the two sides have consistently adhered to mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual support, setting an exemplary model for South-South cooperation. The two countries have maintained high-level exchanges, witnessed record-high bilateral trade volumes, expanded practical cooperation steadily and deepened people-to-people and cultural exchanges, while coordinating closely on international and regional affairs. In 2019, China-Suriname relations were elevated to a strategic cooperative partnership, making Suriname one of the first batch of Caribbean nations to sign cooperation documents under the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2024, then President Chan Santokhi paid a state visit to China. Following the inauguration of Suriname’s new government in July 2025, China-Suriname relations got off to a sound start. President Xi Jinping exchanged letters with President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, steering the course for bilateral ties.
Political mutual trust between China and Suriname has grown stronger with time. The two countries render mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns. Suriname has firmly upheld the One-China Principle all along, while China has consistently supported Suriname’s independent choice of development path and never interfered in Suriname’s internal affairs. Rooted in the shared identity as developing countries, both nations advocate and uphold multilateralism, striving to boost solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. Facts prove that China and Suriname are sincere friends.
Practical cooperation between China and Suriname has yielded fruitful outcomes. In recent years in particular, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two sides has delivered remarkable results, greatly bolstering Suriname’s infrastructure upgrading, economic growth and people’s livelihood improvement. Chinese-aided projects including the Wanica Hospital, low-cost housing, Agricultural Technical Cooperation Center, road monitoring systems and national broadband network have brought tangible benefits to the Surinamese people. Beyond traditional sectors such as energy, mining and infrastructure construction, Chinese enterprises have explored emerging sectors including digital economy and green energy in Suriname. Facts prove that China and Suriname are reliable partners.
People-to-people friendship between China and Suriname endures and thrives. Since the first group of Chinese immigrants arrived in Suriname over 170 years ago, generations of overseas Chinese have settled down, built careers and integrated into this beautiful land. Suriname is the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to designate Chinese Lunar New Year as a national public holiday. The profound kinship linking China and Suriname transcends ordinary state-to-state relations, embodying inseparable blood ties. Through government scholarships, training workshops and other programs, China has offered Surinamese personnel across all sectors opportunities for academic exchanges in China. Facts prove that China and Suriname are close brothers.
Broad rivers converge amid vast waters; favorable winds propel forward sailing. Standing at a new historical starting point, China stands ready to work with Suriname to carry forward time-honored traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, enrich people-to-people exchanges, forge ahead hand in hand in advancing the development of a China-LAC community with a shared future, and jointly create a brilliant tomorrow.