Surinamese president's SZ tour strengthens ties with tech giants

Video by Lin Jianping

President of the Republic of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi visited Shenzhen tech companies Tencent and Huawei yesterday as part of his two-day trip to the city.

Santokhi is the first head of state from the Latin America and Caribbean region to visit China this year, and this is also his first visit to China since assuming the presidency of Suriname.

President of the Republic of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi (2nd L in front row) visits Shenzhen tech company Tencent. Lin Jianping

Shenzhen Party chief Meng Fanli met with Santokhi yesterday morning. According to Meng, Shenzhen, as a special economic zone and a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, is willing to strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation with Suriname in various sectors under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state.

Meng said Shenzhen will work to achieve more mutually beneficial and win-win results in areas such as trade and investment, green development, the digital economy, and tourism with Suriname and make contributions to building a closer Sino-Surinamese strategic partnership.

Santokhi said he was very happy to come to Shenzhen since he was able to witness Shenzhen’s great achievements in economic and social development under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and fully feel the enthusiasm and friendliness of the Chinese people.

The Surinamese president said that during this visit to China, he had friendly and in-depth exchanges with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He hopes to draw on the successful experience of China’s reform and opening up and the construction of special economic zones, enrich the contents of exchanges between the two countries, and raise cooperation between Suriname and China to a higher level.

The visit’s highlight was Santokhi’s engagement with two of Shenzhen’s leading enterprises: Tencent and Huawei.

Santokhi (3rd R in the first row) listens as a Tencent staffer introduces the company's products during his visit to the company's headquarters in Nanshan District yesterday.

At Tencent, Santokhi was introduced to a range of products and solutions including WeChat, Tencent Cloud, AI, and gaming technology. He showed a strong interest in Tencent Cloud’s applications in industries such as energy, transportation, and cultural tourism, praising the company’s payment system and capabilities as exemplary.

President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi (C) visits Huawei during his Shenzhen trip yesterday.

At Huawei, Santokhi was given a comprehensive overview of how the company’s products and solutions are empowering various sectors. Emphasizing the importance of digitalization and connectivity, he got hands-on experience with several products that showcase the potential for technology to enhance education and other critical areas in Suriname.