Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Jamaican Governor-General Kenneth Hall on Thursday vowed to further enhance the China-Jamaica friendly partnership for common development.

During talks with Hall, Xi said China's friendship with Jamaica, a country that carries great weight in the Caribbean region, has a long tradition despite the geographic distance.

Since the establishment of the friendly partnership for common development in 2005, bilateral ties have entered a new phase of all-round development, Xi said.

He expressed China's appreciation for the Jamaican government's adherence to the one-China policy and gratitude for Jamaica's support to the Beijing Olympic Games.

China values its relations with Jamaica and stands ready to join hands with Jamaica to further deepen their mutual political trust and expand cooperation in various fields so as to enrich the China-Jamaica friendly partnership for common development, he said.

For his part, the Jamaican governor-general said Xi's visit has testified to the close and friendly ties between the two countries.

The Jamaican government and people appreciate China's help to the nation and its support to the development of the Caribbean Community, Hall said.

The Jamaican leader reiterated that Jamaica will steadfastly adhere to the one-China policy.

Xi arrived here Wednesday for an official visit to Jamaica, which is the second leg of Xi's six-nation tour. The trip has taken him to Mexico and will take him to Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Malta.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2009)