Wider space for trade now a reality between Guyana, China – Ambassador on Pres Ali’s visit

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s historic visit to China last week has been viewed as one which has reignited cooperation and trust, and paves the way for greater trade and investment between the two sides.
Sharing these sentiments was Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan as President Ali led a delegation to the Asian nation last week. This year marks the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Guyana. The bilateral ties have embarked on a new starting point of enhanced cooperation, said Ambassador Haiyan.

The diplomat noted, “The bilateral friendship and cooperation will enjoy an even a brighter future. China and Guyana share a common development vision which is to enable their people to enjoy a better life. Both China and Guyana are developing countries, facing the same tasks of development and sharing the urgent desire to accelerate development. The Chinese people are striving to realise the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernisation which assures common prosperity.”
Guyana has embarked on a fast development track and embraced great historical opportunities. Haiyan underscored that thanks to China’s advantages of experience, technology and capital in unison with Guyana’s advantages of resources, policies and location will see the bilateral cooperation enjoying a wider space in the field of trade and investment, agriculture, energy and infrastructure. Bilateral trade in goods is already pegged at some US$1.88 billion.

Common development
Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Ali have both committed to building an even closer community with a shared future and advancing common development. Both countries sport the advantage of their common development concepts of green, low-carbon development and harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

“We both have first-hand experience of the impact of climate change, and the motivation and ambition to cope with it. Both sides have great potential in developing green industries, accelerating technological innovation and strengthening environmental protection. The two countries are ready to enhance synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, formulate cooperation plans to implement the consensus of the Heads of State, and achieve tangible results for the benefit of both peoples.”
As countries of the Global South, China and Guyana are also set to strengthen coordination on various multilateral platforms such as the UN Security Council, the Group of 77 and China, the WTO and others, working together to safeguard the interests of developing countries and uphold multilateralism and international fairness and justice.
The two sides will actively seek cooperation under the framework of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
In the post-pandemic era, both China and Guyana are looking forward to frequent exchanges and fruitful cooperation.
Ambassador Haiyan added, “The accompanying delegation of Guyanese private sector also contributed greatly to the success of President Ali’s visit. Engagements and exchanges between the business communities of both sides will inject inexhaustible impetus into the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. I am ready to work with you all to actively implement the outcomes of the visit, promote various follow-up cooperation, and strive for a brighter shared future.”

Enduring friendship
Last Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Guyanese President Ali in Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. 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.
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 had said. (G12)