China, Sao Tome and Principe sign communique to resume diplomatic relations

The foreign ministers of China and Sao Tome and Principe signed a communique on Monday to resume diplomatic relations between the two countries after 20 years.

“From this moment on, the two countries officially resume ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations after 20 years,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said after the signing ceremony.

Wang said the two countries have agreed on fundamental issues, which China highly appreciates.

“We agreed that the one China principle should be the foundation of bilateral relations at any time, and should be upheld all the time without wavering. We both agreed on mutual understanding and support in regards of each other’s core interests and major concerns as well as firmly safeguarding the common interests of the developing countries,” said Wang.

Wang was echoed by his counterpart Urbino Botelho, who said the communique is of historic significance for bilateral relations.

“Above all, we should admit the increasingly important role played by the People’s Republic of China in the world, as a champion for development and restless defender of the rights for people to decide their own path and destiny. And this is also a way to compensate for the lost time and give the friendly embrace from the people and government of Sao Tome and Principe to the Chinese government and people,” he said.

China established diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe in 1975, but cut the ties when the latter established “diplomatic relations” with China’s Taiwan. Sao Tome and Principe cut its “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan on Dec. 20, 2016.