Antigua – Barbuda delegation visits China

By Caribbean News Global

BEIJING, China – Prime Minister Gaston Browne is in Beijing where he is leading an Antigua and Barbuda delegation on a week-long visit to the People’s Republic of China.

Prime Minister Browne is accompanied by health, wellness, social transformation and the environment minister, Sir Molwyn Joseph, minister for foreign affairs, agriculture, trade and Barbuda affairs, E. P Chet Greene, Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Brian Stuart-Young, chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Michael Joseph and chief of staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, ambassador Lionel Hurst.

Agreements for signature

During the visit, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation and their Chinese counterparts will sign ten Memoranda of Understanding to include an agreement to address Climate Change under the framework of South-South Cooperation, an agreement to accelerate the formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road initiative and an agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption.

Minister, Sir Molwyn Joseph will sign an agreement with Alibaba Damo Academy and Hospitals for the provision of equipment for early cancer screening and digital health and to provide doctors with AI-powered tools. The agreement will also provide a framework for the identification of chronic diseases.

Minister E. P. Chet Greene will sign an agreement on a Water Rehabilitation Project along with an agreement for the provision of equipment for the Port of St John’s for aiding in the Anti-Narcotics Laboratory Project funded by China.

Minister Greene will sign an agreement between the China Media Group (CMG) and the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS) for strengthening development and cooperation.

China’s commitment to creating a better future for developing countries

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne will join with other members of Antigua and Barbuda in the official opening of the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in the People’s Republic of China.

On Wednesday, the country’s leader will have his first official meeting with president Xi Jinping and members of his cabinet where discussions will centre around a community of shared future for mankind and the Global Development Initiative.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Browne is expected to highlight China’s commitment to creating a better future for developing countries whose majority populations are challenged because of debt, denial to established capital markets, and natural disasters.

Chinese vision

In the past, Prime Minister Browne has stated that the Chinese vision of a global community of shared future has been deepened and its scope widened to bring prosperity, stability and substantive benefits to millions of people worldwide, in need of relief.

Antigua and Barbuda has been a beneficiary. Within the past ten years, China has contributed two health clinics that serve a significant fraction of the population of Antigua. China has also built the classrooms and administrative blocs that now form the core of the University at Five Islands, Antigua, at no cost.

In addition, the China Export/Import Bank has financed the complete rehabilitation of the St John’s Cargo Seaport, and the modernization of the International Airport terminal.

Scholarships at several Universities for students have been a plank of the development drive; as well as cultural exchanges. This year, China has offered five scholarships through the Chinese Scholarship Council and a choice of 200 post-graduate scholarships through the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Programme.