China-Guyana relations have stood test of changes in international landscape – President Xi tells President Ali

…countries to build closer community with a shared future

China and Guyana on Friday vowed to build a closer community with a shared future as Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
Ali arrived in Chengdu on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games.
During the meeting, President Xi hailed the two countries’ bilateral enduring friendship, stressing that China and Guyana should be good friends who trust each other and rely on each other.

“Although China and Guyana are far apart, our friendship has a long history. This year marks the 170th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese people in Guyana as one of the six major ethnic groups in Guyana. The Chinese-Guyanese people have made important contributions to the local economic and social development…China-Guyana relations have stood the test of changes in the international landscape over the past half century and grown stronger over time,” the Chinese President expressed.
He called on the two sides to share opportunities, tackle challenges, seek cooperation and promote development together so as to build a closer China-Guyana community with a shared future.
As two developing countries, the Chinese President said China and Guyana should work in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, strengthen communication and cooperation, and firmly support each other to achieve the steady and sustained development of the bilateral ties.
He added that the Chinese side is willing to promote the in-depth docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy 2030 and welcomes Guyana’s participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Stressing China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Guyana, President Xi said the two sides should expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of energy, mining, finance, agriculture and fisheries, and infrastructure construction, and cultivate new growth areas such as new energy and green development.
The Chinese President further urged efforts to improve cooperation in people-to-people exchanges, so as to consolidate the foundation of friendship between the two countries.
Noting China and Guyana share broad common interests and similar positions in international and regional affairs, President Xi said China supports Guyana in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.
China is willing to work with Guyana in practicing genuine multilateralism, safeguarding the common interests of the developing countries, and jointly addressing the challenges of climate change, food security, energy security and other issues, President Xi said.
The Chinese President also recalled his visit to the Caribbean Region in 2013, adding that China has consistently supported Caribbean countries in their unity, self-reliance, development and prosperity, and is willing to work with the Caribbean side to build a closer China-Caribbean community with a shared future.

President Xi further expressed hope that the Guyanese side will continue to play an active role in the development of relations between China and the Caribbean countries.
For his part, President Ali stressed that relations between Guyana and China have maintained sound development with strong political mutual trust.
The Guyanese side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, President Ali noted, adding his country regards China as a highly reliable partner and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Guyana.
China has played an important role in the economic and social development of Guyana and the Caribbean Region, not only sharing China’s experience, but also providing valuable assistance to Guyana and regional countries in the development of infrastructure, connectivity, medicine and health, the Guyanese Head of State said.
Voicing his support to a series of major initiatives put forward by President Xi, the Guyanese President also said his country hopes to work closely with China to better address global challenges such as energy, climate change and food security.
This is President Ali’s first official visit to China, and he is accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and a private sector delegation.
So far, President Ali has visited the Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower in Shanghai, where his delegation was given a guided tour of the massive 1536-foot structure that creates a picture of ‘twin dragons playing with pearls.’
Visiting the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, a guided tour of the six-storey building which displays Shanghai’s urban planning and development, was also facilitated.
Ali and his delegation were also given a guided tour of the Chengdu Museum in China’s Sichuan province. Established in 1958, Chengdu Museum is by far the largest comprehensive city museum in Southwest China as well as a national first-class museum. The museum covers an area of about 11,333 square metres with a total floor area of around 65,000 square metres, of which about 20,000 square meters are devoted to exhibitions.
Meanwhile, trade between Guyana and China has been increasing over the past few years, and at the end of 2022, bilateral trade in goods had jumped to US$1.88 billion. In May, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, acknowledged that there is scope for even greater relations between the two countries.
Guyana and China celebrated 50 years of bilateral relations last year. (G11)