Caption: After congratulating the Republic of China on its “outstanding growth,” and describing the 70th Anniversary of Independence as “an opportunity to reflect on and showcase China’s extraordinary journey…” Jamaica’s Foreign Minister, Sen. The Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith and H.E. Tian Qi, Ambassador of China toasted the country’s milestone achievements and future aspirations.
October 1, marked the 70th Anniversary of the founding of The People’s Republic of China. In celebrating this milestone, at the Jamaica Pegasus on September 30, both the Chinese Embassy and the Jamaican Foreign Ministry highlighted the varied achievements and successes of the Jamaica-China 47-year diplomatic relationship.
Noting that Jamaica’s connection with China predates its diplomatic relations to 165 years ago, with the introduction of Chinese indentured workers, Sen. the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade asserted that, “the Chinese presence and culture have become part of the Jamaican fabric, reflecting our national motto.”
Against the backdrop of many successful cooperation projects, the Minister focussed on those achieved within the last year, in the areas of: education; health; sport and infrastructure. Minister Johnson Smith described the 13 scholarship awards and 50 seminars conducted by the Chinese as “significant contributors to Jamaica’s human resource capacity building.”
Caption: Performers for the night, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) choir and the dancers from the Confuscious Institute at the University of the West Indies (U.W.I) paused for a photo opportunity with Sen. the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Foreign Minister and H.E. Tian Qi, Ambassador of China, Ambassador of the Republic of China.
The Minister also highlighted: the 515 cataract surgeries performed in April this year, as part of the Bright Journey Ophthalmic Mission outreach and the continuation of the Jamaica China Technical Assistance Sport Coaching Project, which saw a 138 member delegation embarking on year 2 of the project this summer, in China. In infrastructure, she pointed to the completion of highways in rural areas and upgraded roadways in the corporate area.
Minister Johnson Smith also listed the Western Jamaica Children’s Hospital, the soon-to-be-handed-over Foreign Ministry building and the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement as projects-in-train. At the same time, she noted that Jamaica’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Belt and Road Initiative signals the further ‘forging of bonds, based on a new model of international development cooperation, promoting broad and inclusive connectivity.”
The Foreign Minister also used the opportunity to thank the Chinese Government for designating Jamaica a Guest Country of Honour for the China International Import Exhibition slated for November 2019. The event, she noted, would serve to promote Jamaica as a destination for greater trade and investment ties with China.
In celebration of his country’s milestone, H.E. Tian Qi, Ambassador of China to Jamaica, highlighted China’s major achievements, which includes the growth in China’s per capita gross national income, from roughly $70 to $9,470 over the 7 decades.
On Jamaica-China relations, Ambassador Tian affirmed China’s commitment to development-centred cooperation projects, including the ongoing sustainable-development-oriented infrastructural build-out. He also underscored China’s commitment to working with Jamaica on the international development front. “China looks forward to closer cooperation and coordination with Jamaica in international and regional affairs to safeguard and promote the common interests of the developing countries.”
