Guyana, China sign grant pact

Guyana and China have signed a grant aid agreement worth 50 million renminbi (between US$7.5 million and US$8 million) that will see further development of the social sector, particularly as it relates to training and capacity building.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Monday’s signing was a manifestation of the growing bilateral relations the two countries enjoy. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said these relations date back far beyond the establishment of formal diplomatic ties, as China is the country of origin for an important part of Guyana’s population. 

“People have been migrating from China and settling in Guyana for more than 100 years; the Chinese population in Guyana continues to be an important presence in Guyana,” Dr Singh said. He noted that there have been several tangible manifestations of the friendship between the two countries. One of the most recent projects is a loan of 270 million renminbi (US$39.6 million) provided at a low rate of interest and to be used for upgrading the transmission and distribution network of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated.    

Other areas in which China has provided valuable support to Guyana include: training and scholarships in several fields of specialisation, the provision of medical brigades, the establishment of a co-generation factory at the Skeldon sugar estate, and the 20.7MW Kingston Power Plant.

“China’s support to Guyana goes considerably beyond the confines of the project that we implement together. China provides an example to developing countries around the world, including Guyana,” Minister Singh stated. 

He noted that, although China in its vastness has rural communities that look like those in a developing country, it also has cities that can compare with those anywhere in the world. He added that a good example of this is Shanghai.  He recalled that President Bharrat Jagdeo, who led a Caricom delegation to the recently held Shanghai Expo, praised that event, which was dubbed as resoundingly successful.

The finance minister posited thus: “As we go forward, this agreement will see the implementation of a number of projects that will have very important developmental impacts, like all of the other projects that have been implemented thus far”. 

In his remarks, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Yu Wenzhe, said that since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the two countries have been supporting each other at all levels. He added that several developmental projects have been successfully completed, while others are in the pipeline.

“This agreement is another manifestation of the good relations and close cooperation between our two countries,” the ambassador said.  Guyana was one of the first Caricom countries to establish diplomatic relations with China, in 1972.