A delegation from the China-Latin America and Caribbean Friendship Association (CHILACFA) met President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday with an agenda to explore the possibilities for future cooperation between Guyana and China.
The 12-member delegation was led by President of the Association, Cheng Siwei, who once served for 10 years as Vice Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC). The CHILACFA is a Non Governmental association founded in the 1950s to foster relationships with Latin American and Caribbean countries. There are to date 40 associations established in these territories.
In an exclusive interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), the CHILACFA President said the friendly and developing relations shared between Guyana and China are well known.
“We appreciate the President taking time off to meet with us. We developed a further mutual understanding and we explored the possibilities for the future cooperation,” Cheng said.
Given the rich biodiversity which Guyana possesses, Cheng said investment in the green economy is likely to be targeted as important factors for Guyana, China and the world at large.
President Jagdeo has held the belief that a green economy for Guyana will be as transformative as the Information Communication Technology (ICT) during its advent in the 1990s.
The green economy is considered a rapidly developing new economic development model that promotes renewable energy as a substitute for fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas.
The model is being championed by some progressive leaders in the developed world who, President Jagdeo said, are not taking the necessary action at the global level but are highlighting its benefits.            
Guyana holds the reputation as China’s first ally in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region and continues to maintain bilateral relations, marked by several cooperation programmes in different fields.
The two countries have over the years conducted fruitful “win-win” economic cooperation projects such as the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) and BOSAI bauxite mining.
Tourism, trade and investment flows, infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology are some of the key notes of the two countries relations.
The signing of the framework agreement for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) which is the biggest infrastructure investment in the country is the most recent symbol of the partnership.
China’s economy rapidly became the second-largest economy in the world after the United States of America. It is estimated that the contribution of China’s economic development to the world economic growth is well above 20 percent.