GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana and Dominica Tuesday night praised China for its role in helping in their socio-economic development and promised to continue diplomatic relations with the Asian country.
In separate activities in Roseau and Georgetown, the two countries marked the observance of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, praising Beijing for friendship that has led to economic development in the two countries.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that his island remained “steadfast” to the One China policy and that the two countries enjoy “excellent relations both at the bilateral and also at the multilateral levels”.
Skerrit said that over the past 10 years Beijing has assisted Roseau in a number of areas, including the provision of scholarships for many young Dominicans.
He said very soon with Chinese grant funding, a new hospital would be built in his country “which would assist in transforming the delivery of health care to our citizens”.
Skerrit said that China has also demonstrated to “the world the need for us to promote peace and not war and to use both diplomatic and political means to solve conflicts between and among nations”.
In his address, Prime Minister Sam Hinds said since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Guyana has benefitted from Chinese assistance in a number of areas.
“Indeed, China’s recent allocation towards the capitalisation of the New Development Bank, established by the BRICS countries in July 2014, and the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) to soften infrastructure deficits, attests to China’s commitment to a more just economic world order and South/ South cooperation”.
Hinds said that the dynamism of trade, which amounted to over US$180 million, between the two countries, was also an important factor in the relationship, noting that Chinese companies have invested in infrastructure, forestry, mining and other sectors.
Hinds said the recent opening of the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana was another example of the “commitment to strengthening future exchanges and mutual learning of Guyanese and Chinese cultures.”
China’s Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin noted that the relationship among China, Latin America and Caribbean countries is highly valued and that the recent announcement of the China- CELAC Forum has provided a mechanism of guarantee for the overall cooperation between Beijing and the rest of the region.
“Today China has become the second largest trading partner and third largest source of investment of Latin America and the Caribbean. Our cooperation in energy and resources, infrastructure, finance, agriculture, manufacturing and high-tech has produced rich results for mutual benefits, giving a strong boost to economic growth and improvement in people’s well being on both sides”.
Ambassador Limin said he was also pleased with the assistance provided by the government to Chinese investors and that the recent visit of a high-level delegation from China and the scheduled visit from his country’s Health Minister, Li Bin and the Family Planning Commission of China, will be “another drive to vigorous health cooperation” between the two countries.
His Dominica counterpart, Li Jiangning pledged his country’s continued commitment to improving diplomatic relations with Roseau.
“We appreciate the support that has been given to us,” he said, thanking Skerrit for his “strong support”.
