NEWS
9
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Expanded trade relations to top agenda of China/Caricom talks
E
xpanded trade and economic development investment in the Caribbean region by China will be a major focus of the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Caricom leaders in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend. President Xi was due to touch down in the twin island republic Friday night. While no official statement has been released, heads of government expected in Port of Spain for the scheduled meetings with the Chinese leader are likely to include the presidents of Guyana, Donald
TT Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Ramotar and Suriname’s, Desi Bouterse, as well as the prime ministers of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller; Barbados’s Freundel Stuart; Grenada’s Dr Keith Mitchell; Antigua and Barbuda’s Baldwin Spencer and Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit. China, which is a donor member of the Caribbean Development Bank, is said to be keen in encouraging support for this region’s involvement in plans by the BRICS
bloc of countries for establishment of a new financial institution to boost economic development outside of the roles being played by, for instance, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the Trinidad Express reported. The BRICS countries are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. And it is viewed as significant that the Chinese president’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago follows those to South Africa and Brazil and will extend to Costa Rica and Mexico before moving on to the United States for a two-day (June 7 and 8) visit, primarily for an informal summit with President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, in a joint written interview to the media of Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico ahead of his visit, President Xi said in answering what is the significance of his visit to Latin America and the Caribbean, he said the warm hospitality of the friendly Latin American people and their profound goodwill towards the Chinese people left a deep impression on him. “My upcoming visit will be my first trip to Latin America after becoming the president. The purpose of the visit is to deepen the traditional friendship between China and Latin America and expand their mutually beneficial cooperation. During the visit, I will have in-depth exchanges of views with leaders of Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico on ways to strengthen respective bilateral relations and China-Latin America ties in general and make extensive contacts with people from various communities in these
Chinese President Xi Jinping
President Donald Ramotar
countries. I am confident that the visit will give a strong boost to the China-Latin America comprehensive and cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development,” the Chinese leader said. He added that as an ancient Chinese poem goes, “A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near”. Though geographically far apart, China and Latin America and the Caribbean enjoy a friendship that dates back to antiquity.
said politically, the two sides have rendered each other understanding and support on the major issues bearing on respective core interests and in the course of exploring development paths suited to respective national conditions, resulting in the steady increase of their strategic mutual trust. “Economically, the practical cooperation between the two sides has borne rich fruits, delivering tangible benefits to both peoples. With two-way trade reaching 261.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2012, China has become the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, which witnessed the world’s fastest-rising exports to China. By investing nearly US$65 billion in Latin America and the Caribbean in accumulative terms, China has helped create much-needed jobs in the region.” On the international affairs front, he said the two sides have stepped up coordination and cooperation, effectively upholding their fundamental interests and the common interests of the developing countries. “What is more, we have actively explored ways for all-
Maritime Silk Road
Several centuries ago, Chinese and Latin American merchants opened what was called the “Maritime Silk Road”, forming an important trade route between the eastern and western hemispheres. In the face of complex and shifting international landscapes since the beginning of the 21st century, China and Latin America have upheld the principle of equality and mutual benefit, firmly pursued the goal of common development and worked concertedly for substantial progress in their relations. Additionally, President Xi
Persaud highlights opportunities in mining sector at Australian confab
N
atural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud on Thursday delivered a presentation on the opportunities within Guyana’s mining sector at the second Latin America Down Under (LADU) mining conference in Sydney, Australia. According to a release from Persaud’s office, an invitation was extended to the minister by the Australian ministers for foreign affairs and resources and energy to represent Guyana and address the mining conference. Persaud, during the conference, highlighted the government of Guyana's initiatives to modernise the mining sector and the use of environmentally-friendly technologies and exploration activities in Guyana. The minister’s participation in the conference has enabled Guyana to be involved in discussions and interactions with governments, mining companies, explorers, financial sector executives and other stakeholders. This will aid in identifying new ideas and receive recommended solutions to key challenges facing the gold mining sector in developing countries such as Guyana. Investment opportunities available in Guyana were highlighted by Minister Persaud in an effort to attract the interests of the Australian government and interested
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud and his Australian counterpart Gary Gray companies to invest here. This visit will seek to strengthen bilateral relations between the governments of Guyana and Australia by providing support in areas such as technology, finance, education and training in the mining sector. The minister also held discussions with his counterpart Gary Gray. The discussions were centred on technology transfer and the use of mercury-free technology to modernise the mining sector. The conference was launched to support the new momentum in Australia and Latin America relations and rapid growth of engagement in the mining sector and to provide a rare opportunity for governments, companies, suppliers, media and investors to network and share experiences. The mining conference was organised under the umbrella of the Australian govern-
ment by PayDirt Media, who aims to enhance the commercial links between Australia and the economies of Latin America to develop a particularly strong partnership in the emerging mining sector. Further, the conference aims to enhance the relations between the Australian government and other nations in developing a strong partnership to improve the mining sector in Latin America by learning about new technologies, methods of ensuring sustainable mining and enhancing the network of the mining industry. Meanwhile, the outcome of the conference will enable the ministry to garner important linkages and receive new developmental ideas to propel the mining industry to achieve higher standards that the developed countries have acquired.
round cooperation with a view to bringing into fuller play each other’s strengths and setting up a better platform for advancing our comprehensive and cooperative partnership. “Looking ahead, we are ready to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries to move forward the comprehensive and cooperative partnership between the two sides and bring about still greater benefit to the two peoples. I have full confidence in the prospects of China-Latin America relations,” President Xi said. Asked how he views the growth of China’s relations with Trinidad and Tobago, what types of cooperation can be conducted in the field of energy and what tariff measures will China take to give manufactured goods of Trinidad and Tobago access to the fast-growing markets like BRICS, the Chinese president said China and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a time-honoured friendship. More than 200 years ago, the first group of Chinese settlers arrived at the island of Trinidad. They have since lived harmoniously with the local communities and have become an integral part of the pluralistic society of Trinidad and Tobago.
Solemn vote
He said the Chinese people will never forget that even before the two countries established diplomatic relations, the people of Trinidad and Tobago cast their solemn vote in favour of restoring the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in
the United Nations. “The exchange of diplomatic recognition in 1974 turned a new page in China-Trinidad and Tobago relations. I am so pleased to see that since then and particularly since the establishment of our friendly and cooperative relationship of mutual benefit and development in 2005, we have made substantial progress in growing our relations. Trinidad and Tobago has become one of our most important partners in the English-speaking Caribbean. Our two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in infrastructure, minerals, finance, telecommunications, public health and other areas, which contributed to economic and social development of both countries and the well-being of both peoples.” In recent years, the Latin American and Caribbean countries have made steady progress in pursuing common development through concerted efforts. The establishment of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States fully testifies to the vigorous efforts made by Latin America to realise the dream of unity, coordination and common development championed by the pioneers of the Latin American independence movement. China said it will work closely with the Latin American and Caribbean countries and maintain mutual support and sincere cooperation to realise the great dream of development and prosperity.