President Bharrat Jagdeo last Saturday met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Tianjin and was assured that the Chinese Government will continue to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Guyana.

President Bharrat Jagdeo with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (GINA photo)

President Jagdeo who was in Tianjin to participate in the World Economic Forum’s 2008 New Champions Meeting was accompanied at the meeting with Premier Wen by Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Charge d’Affaires at Guyana’s Embassy in China, Choo An Yin, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

In the meeting with Premier Wen, President Jagdeo commended the Chinese leader for the remarkable economic progress that China has achieved in recent years which he attributed to strong leadership in China and the hard work of the Chinese people.

The President also reiterated Guyana’s support and advocacy of the ‘One China Policy’.

Premier Wen said that China will continue to offer technical assistance to the Guyana Government of Guyana and to support it  in developing the country’s infrastructure. Premier Wen also noted that Guyana has abundant natural resources and China has expertise and resources that can be used to help Guyana to develop and utilise these natural resources productively.

While in Tianjin, President Jagdeo also met with Zhang Ping, Chairman of the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission, during which Zhang shared information on the work of the Commission.  Jagdeo and Zhang also engaged in discussions on the challenges which each country is faced with in their respective stages of development.

Over the weekend, in addition to participating in the events organised by the World Economic Forum, the President also engaged in a bilateral meeting with Professor Klaus Schwab, the Forum’s Founder and Executive Chairman.