In 2021, trade between Guyana and China grew by 123% to US$710m and over the last ten years it has increased nearly four-fold with Chinese investment changing the look of Guyana and improving the livelihoods of its people, according to Beijing’s Ambassador here, Guo Haiyan.
The ambassador in her message to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on June 27, 1972 also noted that in 2018 the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative which she said has injected new impetus into the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides.
This agreement covers agriculture, energy and mining, transportation, telecommunications and many other fields,
“Chinese investment in Guyana is growing rapidly, with more Chinese companies coming to Guyana to invest and set up business,” the ambassador said in her message.
She pointed out that the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, roads, hotels and airport built with Chinese aid or participation have changed the look of Guyana, while projects such as ferries, water plants and broadband networks have improved the livelihoods of Guyanese.
“The two sides support each other on the issues concerning each other’s core interests, maintain close coordination on international affairs, jointly uphold the principles of multilateralism and safeguard the overall interests of developing countries,” the ambassador said.
Haiyan also made mention of the Chinese medical brigade that has been coming to Guyana for the past 17 years which has seen some 247 experts coming here, treating some 1.3 million cases and performing more than 70,000 surgeries. Shee also said that with the advent of COVID-19 the two countries have been offering each other a helping hand and they overcame the difficulties together.
She also noted that before official diplomatic relations were established in 1972 the seeds of political trust were sown since in 1962 when then General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Janet Jagan (who later became president of Guyana) visited China and was received by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. And China immediately recognized Guyana when it became an independent nation in 1966, she reminded while Guyana has firmly adhered to the One China policy.
There was fleeting tension in the relationship last year when it was announced that a Taiwan trade office was to be established here. China considers Taiwan to be a renegade province and the establishment of the office would have been a severe breach of the One China policy. Within a day, Georgetown had to reverse what was seen as a major diplomatic bungle.
The Ambassador’s message was contained in an eight-page pullout published in yesterday’s SN in celebration of the 50th anniversary of relations. The pullout also contained messages on the occasion of the celebration from President Irfaan Ali and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both of the messages referred to a blueprint for relations between the two countries which was laid out between the two leaders during a call in March last year. The details of this blueprint have not been released.
The fiftieth anniversary comes at a time when Guyana’s Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, a former two-term holder of the country’s presidency, is embroiled in controversy with a Chinese businessman who had claimed in an undercover interview that he (Jagdeo) pays bribe to him to spur business deals here. Jagdeo has strenuously denied these allegations.
The businessman, Su Zhirong featured prominently in a recent VICE News programme entitled ‘Guyana for Sale’ which Jagdeo says has proven he is not corrupt.
“I feel vindicated in my most unguarded moment,” the Vice President said after the airing of the programme.
“This was a secret recording and it was not all contiguous… in all it was about 15 to 20 minutes,” he had said. He also called on VICE News to release the video of the entire undercover meeting at his home which was recorded by a hidden camera,
In the programme aired on June 19th on Showtime, Su, who lived next door to Jagdeo in Pradoville 2 in a house rented from him, took the VICE News undercover `businessman’ who went by the name of Mr. Chan to meet the Vice President.
Following the airing of the programme, Jagdeo said that his tenant and neighbour, who alleged to VICE News that he collects bribes, abused their friendship and access he had for his own gain, and if VICE News was discerning, then they would have realised that they were “being duped”. He also said that Su will have to immediately vacate the premises that he currently rents.
