The China-Caribbean Development Center was launched in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province on July 6.
Jointly built by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Shandong Provincial People's Government, the center is focused on deepening exchanges and cooperation between China and the Caribbean region in eight areas, including poverty reduction, food security, anti-epidemic, climate change, green development, and digital economy.
The China-Caribbean Development Center is unveiled in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province on July 6. [Photo provided to english.jinan.gov.cn]
Shandong province will make full use of the center to push for cooperation with Caribbean countries in more fields, said Li Ganjie, Party secretary of Shandong during his speech at the unveiling ceremony, adding that Shandong's economic development shows a steady and sound performance, which sets up a broad stage for deepening cooperation and establishing a win-win future between Shandong and Caribbean countries.
Xie Feng, vice-minister of foreign affairs said at the conference via a video link that by setting the center in Shandong, China hopes to give full play to the unique advantages of the province to carry out high-quality, sustainable and people-friendly cooperation projects.
Xie noted that China is ready to work with Caribbean countries to build the China-Caribbean Development Center and an even closer China-Caribbean community with a shared future.
Representatives and guests attend the unveiling ceremony for the China-Caribbean Development Center and Conference on China-Caribbean Development on July 6. [Photo provided to english.jinan.gov.cn]
The Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as North and South America, meet at a crossroads in the Caribbean region. Ten Caribbean nations, including Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic, have so far established diplomatic ties with China.
In recent years, Shandong province also has witnessed increasingly close exchanges and cooperation with Caribbean countries. In 2019, Shandong's Yantai city established sister city ties with Kingston, Jamaica. A series of artistic performances and kite cultural exchange activities have been organized by Shandong in Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago, enhancing the understanding and friendship between all sides.
Photo taken on July 6, 2022 shows the unveiling ceremony of the China-Caribbean Development Center in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province. [Photo provided to english.jinan.gov.cn]
Anyin Choo, Guyana's Ambassador to China said at the conference that Caribbean countries and China enjoy wide cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, education, sports, trade transport, and culture. She noted that the center will "serve as an important mechanism that will drive the advancement of relations between China and Caribbean region".
"Today's activity is an indicator of the increased vitality in exchanges between the Caribbean region and China, and the role to be played by Shandong province in this regard," said Analisa Low, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to China.
She added that Trinidad and Tobago and Shandong are both coastal territories, entrusted with the duty of ensuring the sustainable development of maritime resources. "The China-Caribbean Development Center can play an instrumental role in not only facilitating business cooperation, but also promoting technical exchanges in the area of marine conservation, the development of the blue economy, among many others."
