Guyana and China on Wednesday signed several agreements to the value of 3 million renminbi (G$93.2 million) to boost priority projects in the areas of transportation, health care, training and culture.
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and China’s Assistant Commerce Minister, Li Rongcan, exchange agreements during the Eleventh Session of the Guyana/China Joint Commission
The agreements were signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on behalf of Guyana, while China’s Assistant Commerce Minister, Li Rongcan, signed for his country. The signing of agreements was part of the Eleventh Session for the Guyana/China Joint Commission on Economic Trade and Technical Cooperation.
At the end of the session, the functionaries also signed the exchange of notes on the Guyana government’s ‘One Laptop Per Family’ project, which will pave the way for 90,000 households to each benefit from a laptop computer. The event, held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), also saw the participation of China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Hu Wenzhe; Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Network, Mohammad Sattaur, and other key government functionaries and Chinese delegation, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release.
Speaking at the event, Minister Li Rongcan said that while his visit was to assess the current economic and trade cooperation between China and Guyana, his delegation was also looking to explore new opportunities for future cooperation. Ideas were also shared on the hosting of the third China/Caribbean Trade and Economic Cooperation forum, which will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago later this year. Minister Li Rongcan stated that the Chinese government is committed to the friendly relations with Guyana, and as such, is willing to provide further aid within its means. He also assured the Guyana government of continued investment by Chinese businesses in Guyana.
“The Ministry of Commerce in China is willing to work with the Guyana government to push the trade and economic cooperation between our two countries,” he said. In 1972, Guyana and China established diplomatic ties, and to date, its bilateral relations have witnessed steady development.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett told the meeting that, through a joint commission, the two countries have been able to concretise measures to promote programmes of functional cooperation. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the Guyana/China Joint Commission; and according to the foreign affairs minister, the sustained exchange over the years has given added impetus to collaboration at economic and technical levels.
The agreements signed Wednesday were priority projects agreed upon during the last Joint Commission held in Beijing, China three years ago. “There have been tangible benefits for Guyana, manifested in several projects in more recent years, the modernisation of the sugar factory at Skeldon and the construction of this modern International Conference Centre at which we meet,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.
“These projects will have a significant impact on the lives of our people in the building of capacity in the training of our young people at institutions in various disciplines; the deputation of doctors to enhance the delivery of our health sector programmes, and senior volunteers to share their expertise in certain key departments of government,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett explained.
She said that the industrial sector will also benefit from the Guyana Power and Light project, while a ferry vessel, which is expected to become operational before the end of this year, will significantly enhance the transport sector. While noting that the consistent substantial contribution from China towards Guyana’s national development remains a tangible one, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett stated that it also demonstrates south/south cooperation and China’s unwavering commitment to supporting small developing states.
