PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is on a one-week official visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) where he received a red carpet welcome.
This is yet another high profile trip which provides an opportunity for both countries to solidify relations. The President is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd and other officials.

Guyana and China established diplomatic relations on June 27, 1972, with Guyana having the distinction of being the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to so do. Guyana has also consistently taken a principled position on the “One China” policy.
With China now a global economic powerhouse and Guyana’s meteoric rise as a key player on the international stage with major emphasis on economic diplomacy, it is only natural for both countries to forge closer ties.

Guyana is also home to a significant number of Chinese, many of whom are making their presence felt in a number of areas such as business, trade and commerce and also in the construction sector.
Guyana is small relative to China in terms of economic might, population and geographical size but with the status of the country now as an oil producing nation, its influence on the international stage and strategic importance has been considerably enhanced.
Guyana only recently was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a great honour for a small country.

The contribution by China to Guyana’s development has been significant and this is likely to improve further as a result of President Ali’s engagements with that country.
During an engagement between President Ali and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders committed to working together to address global challenges such as energy, climate change and food security. Chinese investment in Guyana is also high on the agenda.

President Ali hailed the role played by China in the country’s socio-economic development. According to the President, China has played an important role in the economic and social development of Guyana and the Caribbean region, not only in terms of sharing its experiences but also providing valuable assistance to Guyana and other regional countries in areas of infrastructure, connectivity, medicine and health.

President Xi on his part hailed the enduring bilateral friendship of the two countries, emphasising the importance of Guyana and China to “remain good friends who trust and rely on each other.”
He called on the two countries to share opportunities, tackle challenges, seek cooperation and promote development together so as to build a closer China-Guyana community with a shared future.

China, he added, is willing to promote the in-depth docking of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and welcomed Guyana’s participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE).
These are all significant developmental initiatives which could, individually and collectively, impact the trajectory of global development.

We now live in a multi-polar world characterised by growing competitiveness and the pursuit of diplomacy to bolster economic growth. The days of economic and political ‘spheres of influence’ and big-power politics are now over.
There is no longer the need for small countries like Guyana, as in the past, to align themselves with one or the other superpowers out of some perceived benefit. Guyana’s foreign policy is influenced by domestic imperatives which in essence are aimed at improving the quality of life of the Guyanese people.

Guyana is now an important player on the international stage thanks to the country’s newly found carbon riches, and also because of the visionary and proactive leadership by President Ali on the regional and international stage.
Only recently, Guyana hosted a visit by United States Secretary of State Blinken aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries. Similar engagements were made by President Ali with other world leaders with the aim of securing the country’s best interests.

President Ali must be commended for the high energy level he has been displaying in his engagements with world leaders. He certainly has a packed agenda which includes meetings with other global leaders and business executives with the view to promoting Guyana’s development.