China ready to advance Belt & Road, energy collaboration with Guyana

…as Foreign Ministers meet for high-level talks in Beijing

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd on Monday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, following on the heels of which it was announced that China is ready to advance closer collaboration with Guyana in a number of areas including the Belt and Road initiative and in energy and mineral resources.
According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy, the meeting saw the two side exploring opportunities for closer ties, as well as the Chinese side reiterating its support for Guyana on its independent development path.
“China is ready to work with Guyana to follow the guidance of the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, enhance cooperation in such areas as energy and mineral resources, agriculture and fisheries, manufacturing, and infrastructure development,” the Chinese embassy said.

Further, the embassy noted that they are ready to “explore cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital and green economies, deepen exchanges and cooperation in healthcare, education, and culture, and push forward the sustained growth of China-Guyana relations. China will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Guyana to support the country in upgrading its industries and achieving economic self-reliance.”
Meanwhile, the embassy noted that Wang Yi during the meeting looked to distance China from other countries. For instance, Wang Yi noted that his country’s prosperity does not depend on colonial plunder or geopolitical machinations.
“China remains firmly committed to standing with developing countries, especially small and medium-sized nations. The more China develops, the stronger its capacity to support developing countries in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests and to promote a more peaceful, just and harmonious world.”
“China will work in solidarity with the Global South to uphold the basic norms governing international relations and the core role of the United Nations,” Wang Yi was cited by the Chinese embassy as saying during the meeting.
For his part, Todd noted that since taking office as Foreign Minister and visiting China, he has been able to witness the strengthening of ties between the two countries. He was also cited by the Chinese embassy, as reiterating the esteem in which Guyana holds its ties with China and values its global leadership.
“As the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China, Guyana regards China as a trustworthy and good friend, appreciates the contributions Chinese enterprises have made to Guyana’s rapid development, and is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China. Guyana welcomes more Chinese investment.”
“Hugh Hilton Todd stated that China, with a history of over 5,000 years, has demonstrated tremendous strength while remaining modest… Guyana values China’s status and influence as a major country, appreciates China’s leadership in improving global governance, and is willing to uphold multilateralism and safeguard international law and rules with China.”
Another issue raised was the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), with Todd and Yi exchanging views on how to utilize the China-CELAC platform, to build a greater partnership between China and the LAC.