Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Thursday that China will encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Guyana and continue to offer help for Guyana's economic and social development to the best of its capabilities.

He made the remark in a meeting with Guyana's Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

Noting that Guyana is the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean region that has forged diplomatic ties with China, Wen said China appreciates Guyana's firm adherence to the one-China policy and its active efforts in boosting friendly cooperation between Caribbean nations and China.

He said China-Guyana ties are developing steadily and bilateral cooperation keeps on expanding. "China is satisfied with the actual situation of bilateral ties," he added.

Wen said a closer and friendly cooperative relationship between China and Guyana benefits the basic interests of the two peoples and the development of South-South cooperation.

He said China hopes to further explore the diplomatic and economic and trade mechanisms between the two countries and improve mutual support and coordination in the international arena.

He also hopes the two countries will conduct further research and form cooperative plans for bilateral economic and trade exchanges.

Hinds said Guyana appreciates China's long-term assistance in infrastructure construction and the health sector.

He said Guyana hopes to improve cooperation in trade and hydro-electricity exploitation to further bilateral ties. Hinds also reiterates his government's firm adherence to the one-China policy.

Hinds arrived in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon for an eight-day working visit to China. This is Hinds' first visit to China as prime minister. Besides Beijing, he will also travel to east China's Jiangsu Province and Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2005)