Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, is leading a delegation on a week-long visit to the People’s Republic of China, where they are meeting with Chinese counterparts to strengthen cooperation and bilateral friendship.
Accompanied by several ministers and officials, the delegation, which arrived on Monday 22nd of January, is set to sign ten memoranda of understanding during the visit. These agreements will cover various fields, including cooperation in the fight against climate change, cooperation on the Belt and Road initiative, and specific projects such as water rehabilitation and the provision of equipment for the Port of San Juan.
Prime Minister Browne will meet with President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials. During these meetings, the Chinese vision of a shared future community for humanity and the Global Development Initiative will be addressed. Browne is expected to highlight China’s commitment to improving the future of developing countries, especially those facing challenges such as debt, denial of access to capital markets and natural disasters.
On Tuesday 24th of January, the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in China was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Browne, further cementing ties between the two nations. China-Antigua and Barbuda cooperation has seen noted progress in recent years, evidenced by China’s contribution to health and education infrastructure in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the funding of major projects such as the rehabilitation of the seaport and the modernization of the airport.
The official visit reflects China’s recognition of Antigua and Barbuda as an important partner in the Caribbean and seeks to take bilateral relations to a new level. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning noted that relations between the two countries have been a model of mutual respect and common benefit between large and small nations.
Main source:
Xi se reúne con primer ministro de Antigua y Barbuda |RPP. (2024, enero 24). https://spanish.xinhuanet.com/20240124/d177c08e6beb41e1a5369ef623d13779/c.html
Other related sources:
Caribbean News Global. (2024, enero 22). https://caribbeannewsglobal.com/antigua-barbuda-delegation-visits-china/
Prensa Latina. (2024, enero 19) https://www.prensa-latina.cu/2024/01/19/primer-ministro-de-antigua-y-barbuda-por-ampliar-nexos-con-china