President Xi Jinping stressed Antigua and Barbuda's importance to China in the Caribbean region, and thanked the country for its strong support for China's core interests.

In his meeting with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer on Saturday in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, Xi said he hoped China and Antigua and Barbuda would join hands in pushing bilateral cooperation to a new level.

The Chinese president, who is on a four-nation regional tour that will also take him to Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States, said China will emphasize the proposals put forward by Antigua and Barbuda on cooperation in areas regarding tourism and people's livelihood.