On April 13, Times of Suriname, the largest newspaper in Suriname published Ambassador Zhang Jinxiong's article titled as "A More Open China Will Bring New Opportunities for China-CELAC Cooperation". The full text is as follows:

4月13日，苏里南最大日报《苏里南时报》全文刊登张晋雄大使署名文章《更加开放的中国将为中拉合作带来新机遇》。

A More Open China Will Bring New Opportunities for China-CELAC Cooperation

更加开放的中国将为中拉合作带来新机遇

I have been asked by Surinamese friends quite a few times about the recent tension between China and the US over trade. Will the possible trade confrontation between the world's two biggest economies affect China's opening-up policy and the global trading system? How do you react to the criticism of White House officials of China's trade policy for this hemisphere as not productive and thus Latin American countries should work with the US instead of China? Our answers to those questions are quite clear. First of all, China's door of opening up will not be closed and will only be opened even wider. Secondly, China remains as a strong advocate of global trading system and committed to open, inclusive, balanced and win-win economic globalization. Thirdly, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and CELAC countries on an equal footing has been in line with the trend of times and brought tangible results to both peoples. It's our shared aspiration and choice to only strengthen the cooperation, which should not and will not be disturbed by groundless accusations.

最近，苏里南各界高度关注中美贸易问题，一些当地朋友问我，中美贸易问题是否将影响中国对外开放？全球贸易体系将向何处去？还有一些朋友问我对近期美国白宫官员批评中国贸易政策对美洲没有成效并声称可能在即将举行的美洲峰会期间要求拉美国家不要与中国开展贸易合作的看法。对此，我们的答案十分明确。第一，中国开放的大门不会关闭，只会越开越大。第二，中国将始终坚定维护全球贸易体系，推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、平衡、共赢的方向发展。第三，中拉在平等互利基础上开展合作，顺应时代潮流，惠及中拉各国人民，是中拉双方的共同愿望和选择，不应也不会受到干扰。

China has always been contributing to world peace, global growth and international order. Peaceful development, global partnership, a new type of international relations and international community of shared future remains to be the unswerving goal of our foreign policy. On the annual meeting of Boao Forum for Asia two days ago, President Xi Jinping solemnly declared a series of new major measures China will take in opening-up wider to the rest of the world. He pledged that those measures ensuring easier market access, better investment environment, stronger IPR protection and larger import will be implemented at an early date so as to benefit enterprises and people from all over the world.

事实上，中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者。中国将坚定不移走和平发展道路，积极发展全球伙伴关系，推动构建新型国际关系和人类命运共同体。日前，在博鳌亚洲论坛2018年年会上，中国国家主席习近平向世界郑重宣示了中国将在放宽市场准入、改善投资环境、加强知识产权保护、主动扩大进口等方面采取扩大对外开放的一系列新的重大举措，并郑重承诺这些举措将尽快落地，让中国开放的成果及早惠及各国企业和人民。

China-CELAC cooperation is part and parcel for China's overall opening-up policy. As an integral part of South-South cooperation, the successful cooperation has already set a good example for the rest of developing nations. The fruitful cooperation in recent years has made China the largest or second largest trading partner for most of the Latin American countries. Nowadays, Chinese costumers can easily buy more quality products from CELAC countries. China's direct investment to this hemisphere has exceeded $200 billion dollars, creating 1.8 million jobs for local people in Latin America. This cooperation has well matched the practical and long-term demand of CELAC countries in their pursuit of growth, brought real benefits to their people and vigorously promoted socioeconomic development of the region. Early this year, the Second Ministerial Meeting of China-CELAC Cooperation Forum was held in Chile, adopting three significant documents and turning over a new chapter for China-CELAC relations. Participating countries have unanimously agreed to embrace more innovation and upgrade our cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. It's only natural to envisage the cooperation driven by a more powerful engine to have better quality, improved structure and extend to wider fields.

中拉合作是中国开展对外合作的重要方向，也是南南合作的重要组成部分和成功典范。近年来，中拉各领域合作成绩斐然。中国已成为多数拉美国家的第一或第二大贸易伙伴，越来越多的拉美优质产品进入中国市场。中国在拉美直接投资存量已超过2000亿美元，累计为当地创造了180多万个就业机会。中拉合作契合了拉美国家谋发展的现实和长远需求，为拉美人民带来了实实在在的好处，有力促进了拉美国家经济社会发展。今年初，中拉论坛第二届部长级会议首次在拉美举行，通过三份重要成果文件，开启了中拉整体合作的新篇章。中拉一致同意在拉美共建“一带一路”，实现中拉合作优化升级、创新发展，打造领域更宽、结构更优、动力更强、质量更好的中拉合作新局面。

In the short span of two years of work in Suriname, I become an eye-witness of the impressive achievements of our bilateral cooperation, which is to a large extent attributed to the opening-up policy of China and the dynamic China-CELAC cooperation. Our BUZA colleagues are now working in a far better facility renovated by a Chinese company. Children from local communities call the Sofia Lust's Centre as their "dream palace". Projects of Dalian IV, Wanica hospital, national broadband and e-governance are pressing ahead smoothly. Projects of 350 houses and international airport expansion will be launched very soon. Feasibility study of an agriculture technological cooperation center has been concluded. Road safety and surveillance project is under intensive study. Private investors such as Zhonghengtai Company, Broad Homes and CDIG are actively working on either oil palm or housing projects. The two governments are busy discussing better integrating our development strategies under the Belt and Road Initiative.

在苏里南工作短短两年，我亲眼见证了中苏务实合作在中国不断深化对外开放和中拉整体合作蓬勃发展带动下取得丰硕成果。外交部大楼维修和索非亚社区项目交付使用，国家基础设施项目、瓦尼卡医院、国家宽带网络及电子政务项目等有序推进，350套住房和机场扩建项目即将启动，农业技术合作中心完成可研，道路安全监控项目正在抓紧设计。油棕种植、远大住房、中大国际公司住房等大型民间合作稳步发展。当前，中苏双方正在加紧探讨进一步加强“一带一路”框架下的发展战略对接。

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's opening up and reform policy. Forty years of unremitting endeavors and experiences have reaffirmed the determination and confidence of the Chinese people in adhering to this fundamental national policy - the only path to win-win outcomes for the international community.

今年是中国改革开放40周年。40年的砥砺奋进和珍贵启示坚定了中国人民坚持对外开放基本国策的初心、决心和信心。我们相信，只有坚持和平发展、携手合作，走对话而不对抗、结伴而不结盟的国与国交往新路，才能真正实现共赢、多赢。

Looking into the future, a more open China on a fast development track heralds new opportunities and broader prospect for China-CELAC cooperation. Many CELAC countries have already signed up for the First International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai this year. They are more than welcome to join us to better harvest the dividend of the Chinese market and reform policy. We stand ready to join our hands to promote our mutually beneficial cooperation for the interest of people of both sides.

展望未来，快速发展、日益开放的中国必将为中拉合作带来新的重要机遇，开辟更加广阔的前景。今年11月，我们将在上海举办首届中国国际进口博览会，包括苏在内的拉美各国踊跃报名参加。我们真诚欢迎拉美国家参会，更多分享中国市场和改革发展红利。我们愿与拉美国家一道，不断推进中拉互利合作，实现共同发展，造福双方人民。