Dear Editor,
Throughout the world, the month of February saw the celebration of a New Year by Chinese people in China and overseas. The New Year is the prime time for us to reflect on the success and failures of the previous year, and it should be noted that there were many events that served to deepen and develop the relationship between Guyana and China in 2018.
The most notable was a visit by Foreign Minister of China, Mr. Wang Yi.
The visit by such a high level leader like Foreign Minister Wang Yi can only indicate that China considers the relationship with Guyana to be strong and stable enough to warrant cooperation on a higher level than seen in previous years.
This visit ultimately saw two agreements signed by the Government of Guyana and China in the areas of technology and economics on September 22. Considering the stable growth rate of China’s economy at 6.6% (2018), having this partnership with a major country that is willing and ready to work together with Guyana towards development is no doubt invaluable.
The year of 2018 also saw a record setting 480 students enrolling at the Confucius Institute at the University of Guyana with the goal of learning the Chinese language and being exposed to Chinese cultural activities. Students today are the leaders and policy makers of tomorrow. It can only be considered good that the future leaders of Guyana have a deep understanding of China’s policies and strategies for engagement with large countries and smaller countries like Guyana. 2018 also saw the return from China of two second lieutenants of the GDF whose multiple academic degrees and aviation training in China was accompanied by passing the highest level mandarin language proficiency tests that could possibly be taken by non-native speakers of Chinese Language. The return from China of several doctors, engineers and other professionals together with multiple visits to China by Guyana’s Public Servants and members of society from varying backgrounds serve as indicators that China as an academic destination is popular and desirable.
Major infrastructural projects like the CJIA Expansion via China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) and the East Coast Widening and Enhancement Project via China Railway First Group Company Limited made strides to completion while the critical but complex Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue Road Enhancement project commenced under the efforts of Sinohydro Corporation. The construction of new facilities at the Pegasus Hotel also saw a start in 2018 under the efforts of CHEC. Guyana’s offshore oil finds are no doubt spectacular to behold, but it must not be forgotten that our nation’s transportation infrastructure must continue to improve in order to support the increased economic activity due to the oil finds.
Looking towards 2019, I expect that China will play an increasingly important role on the global stage and with this guarantee, it is my hope that mutually beneficial co-operation between Guyana and China continues. It is my hope that by tending to the relationship between China and Guyana carefully, the leaders of Guyana are able to bring our beloved country to a higher level of development. Please permit me to extend to the Chinese community in Guyana, the Guyanese community in China and to everyone else, A Happy and Truly Prosperous Chinese New Year.
Yours faithfully,
Justin Gomes,
International Relations Student – University of Guyana.
