THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday received from the 2011 aid package from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China equipment and machinery amounting to $5M RMB.

This is apart from the $4.8M RMB aid agreement which was inked on Tuesday between the Chinese Army and the GDF.

The gift equipment included one ambulance, three front end loaders, one excavator, one generator plant and two inflatable boats with outboard engines.

The symbolic handing over ceremony took place at GDF Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomaslands, Georgetown, Drill Square in which was witnessed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Donald Ramotar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, PLA Major General Kong Li, the Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Limin among others yesterday morning.

President Ramotar said that the government and the country value very much, its relationship with the People’s Republic of China and appreciate the great contribution that the country is making in many parts of the world and more importantly in Guyana.

“The contribution that we have received here today from the People’s Liberation Army is indeed very vital in assisting the GDF to build its infrastructure and facilitate it work in a more effective and efficient way,” the President said.

Ramotar stated that with the country’s terrain ( low lying coastal plains, rugged mountains in the interior and its vast river network) the equipment will play a very important role in the work of the army as it relates to defence and maintaining communication in the not so accessible parts of Guyana.

He said: “It will assist the army to move much more quickly and to better respond to emergency and difficulties in any part of Guyana.”

President Ramotar also noted the significant contribution the PLA and the Republic of China have been making to international and regional development over years.

He pointed out the fact that this support has increased greatly over time and China has become one of the main drivers in the international economy.

“Their friendly relations and investment in many parts of the world have helped greatly during the time of the financial and economic crises to keep the world economy going,” he said, adding that China has become the biggest trading partner of many countries in the world.

The President also highlighted the Chinese investment in the development of Jamaica, Bahamas, Africa and South America.

He noted that Guyana has enjoyed 42 years of bilateral relations with China that have seen frequent exchanges between the two countries in several areas including the military.

Mr. Ramotar stated that the support provided to the GDF yesterday represents China’s 2011 military assistance to Guyana.

Major General Kong Li explained that in order to show the importance that the PLA attaches the China/Guyana military to military relationship and effort to help the GDF to further develop itself, the Chinese military decided to increase the amount of its military aid to Guyana for this year to $30M RMB which was applauded my the GDF yesterday following the announcement.

Brigadier Mark Phillips explained that the 2012 assistance of $10M RMB is in process, which is on the heels of the Guyana and China agreement for 2014 assistance, which amounts to $30M RMB signed yesterday.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin noted that the two countries’ bilateral military cooperation is an important part of their bilateral cooperation and that over the many years regardless of international challenges, this bilateral military relationship has always developed smoothly.

He said that it has lived through a time of test over the many years to promote friendly relations between the two military forces and between its two peoples.

The diplomat said that the signing of the 2014 agreement on Tuesday and the handing over of the equipment yesterday represents a new start in this military cooperation.

(By Michel Outridge)