PM sees room for further expansion of ties with China

Prime Minister Mark Phillips last evening said that Guyana and China have built a multifaceted relationship over more than five decades, while identifying several areas in which cooperation can be further developed.

The Prime Minister made the remarks  at a reception hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China at the Guyana Marriott Hotel to commemorate the country’s National Day and the 77th anniversary of the founding of the republic.

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister said that Phillips reflected on the development of bilateral relations, noting that engagement between Guyana and China has been guided by mutual respect, cooperation and shared development interests.

The PM highlighted engagement in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, transportation and human resource development. 

The release said that he cited the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation International, as one example of cooperation in infrastructure. He also adverted to the Guyana Six Regional Hospitals Project and acknowledged the work of Chinese medical teams that have served in Guyana over the years.

Phillips also underscored  trade as an important component of the relationship and said Guyana’s continued economic diversification provides room for further commercial engagement between the two countries.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister said Guyana’s development priorities provide opportunities for additional areas of cooperation. He pointed to sustainable urban development, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, modern transportation and urban planning, as well as agriculture, food processing and agricultural technology.

Phillips also identified fisheries, aquaculture, marine science and environmental protection as areas in which Guyanese and Chinese institutions, universities, enterprises and technical partners could pursue further engagement.

“The question before us is not simply what we have achieved together, but what more we can accomplish together.”