Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, K.D. Knight and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhenyu discuss the China-Jamaica Trade Forum in Kingston during November. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE LINKS between China and Jamaica are growing and will continue to grow into the future, said China's ambassador Zhao Zhenyu. He also said that the efforts by both sides to build that partnership will create a stronger and more fruitful relationship.
Mr. Zhao was speaking at the celebration of the 56th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Hilton Hotel in Kingston on Monday.
The following is an excerpt from his presentation.
China has a huge population of 1.3 billion, a weak economic foundation, uneven development between regions and consequently the mounting pressure arising from population, resources and environment. Despite the rapid growth in economy, China's per capita Gross Domestic Product of US$1,200 still trails behind the 100th in the world. There are still 26 million people living below the poverty line in China's vast rural areas, while 22 million urban residents live on minimum living allowance.
While adhering to the basic principle of self-reliance, we also pursue a policy of opening-up, and stand ready to strengthen economic exchanges and co-operation with other countries. We believe that China's development will not only raise the living standards of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, but also bring about more development opportunities to other countries in the world.
HISTORY OF FRIENDSHIP
China and Jamaica are geographically far away from each other, but they enjoy a long history of friendly contact. Last year, we just celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Chinese in Jamaica. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972, China and Jamaica have enjoyed an all-round friendly cooperation, as evidenced by frequent exchange of visits among leaders of both countries, increased trade volume, flourishing cultural and sports exchanges and close co-operation on international affairs.
During the visit to Jamaica by the Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong in February this year, China and Jamaica agreed to establish a friendly partnership for common development, demonstrating the strong aspiration of the two countries for furthering our bilateral relations.
SUCCESSFUL VISIT
Prime Minister P. J. Patterson's successful visit to China in June has injected new vigour and vitality into Sino-Jamaican relations. The grand opening of the Jamaican Embassy in Beijing officiated by Foreign Minister K. D. Knight and his Chinese counterpart in July is an important indication of our relationship growing from strength to strength.
In recent years, the economic and technical cooperation between China and Jamaica has yielded sound economic and social benefits. Jamaica has become China's largest trading partner in the English-speaking Caribbean region. The China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum cosponsored by China and Jamaica in February this year has provided a new platform for more exchanges and co-operation between business circles from China and the Caribbean countries, including Jamaica.
I am glad to tell you that much fresh headway has been made in our economic and technical co-operation projects. The construction of the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny has already started. Negotiations are underway on projects such as the rehabilitation of the Jamaican railway system, the building of the convention centre in Montego Bay, the construction of the Jamaican telemedicine network and Chinas' continuous supply of pipes for Jamaican water project, to name only a few.
EXTENDED CO-OPERATION
The areas of co-operation between China and Jamaica have been further expanded to tourism, sports, culture, education, media and military, In February, China had listed ten Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, as approved tourist destinations for its citizens. The Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin led a Jamaica Defence Force delegation to China in July.
Two Chinese table tennis coaches are now in Kingston, training Jamaican national players. Under the Chinese government scholarship program, several Jamaican students are studying at Chinese universities. At the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, two journalists from The Gleaner and the Observer are right now in China for a ten-day visit. The Chinese ocean research vessel 'DAYANG YIHAO', which is carrying out a round-the-world trip, will make a call at the Port of Kingston in early October.
At the same time, invited by Minister Knight and Secretary General Mr. Satya Nandan respectively, a Chinese oceanic delegation will visit Jamaica and the International Seabed Authority. I believe these two visits will break new ground for co-operation between our two countries.
IDENTICAL POSITIONS
In the international arena, China and Jamaica hold many identical or similar positions, extend support to each other on some major issues and have conducted sound cooperation. Jamaica is an important country in the Caribbean region and an active player on the world stage. In January this year, Jamaica assumed the chairmanship of G77 and China.
China highly appreciates the large amount of useful work Jamaica has done for the developing countries during its chairmanship of G77 and China, the most recent example being its efforts to have put the development issue at the important position in the outcome document of the just-concluded U.N. Summit. China hopes to conduct closer cooperation with Jamaica in the United Nations and other international organisations, so as to contribute to safeguarding world peace, boosting South-South co-operation and promoting common development.
