To much fanfare, on July 6 China officially launched the China-Caribbean Development Center in the city of Jinan in the eastern province of Shandong, aimed at promoting closer cooperation with the Caribbean nations with which it has diplomatic relations, in such areas as poverty alleviation, food security, pandemic response, and green development, China Daily reported today. Xie Feng, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was present at the ceremony, stressed that the center will serve as a catalyst for a sustainable and high standard of cooperation that will greatly benefit the people of the Caribbean.
During a virtual meeting earlier this year with nine foreign ministers of the Caribbean countries with which China has diplomatic relations, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that China is prepared to work closely with these nations to promote peace and development, to strengthen bilateral relations, promote mutually-beneficial development, and “carry forward the friendship among people.”
Several ambassadors from Caribbean nations who were present at the ceremony expressed their gratitude for the benefits the center will bring. Jamaican Ambassador to China Antonia Hugh described the many problems afflicting the Caribbean region—external shocks, import dependence, limited resources and export bases, and climate change—all of which have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We appreciate this center for the promise it holds for collaboration, policy dialogue, and as a means of formulating solutions to our most intractable development challenges,” he said. He thanked China especially for providing Jamaica with mobile vaccination units, 100,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses, and medical equipment and supplies.
According to Xinhua, during yesterday’s ceremony three specific cooperation projects were announced, including the donation of anti-pandemic materials to several countries, collaboration with Guyana on marine fisheries training, and the launching of an international information exchange platform to share successful cases of common development with the people of the Caribbean region. Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to China, Analisa Low, expressed the hope that cooperation with China would increase. She pointed out that many large Chinese multinationals have established branches in her country and that the China-Caribbean Development Center can play an important role in facilitating business cooperation.
