PRIME Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has outlined opportunities for Guyana and China to deepen their partnership beyond the oil-and-gas sector, pointing to areas including sustainable urban development, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and marine development.
Prime Minister Phillips, during a recent reception hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to commemorate the country’s National Day and the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, said Guyana is at a pivotal point in its national development, with the growth of the oil and gas sector creating unprecedented opportunities for the country.
However, he stressed that Guyana’s ambitions extend beyond hydrocarbons, with the government seeking to use the country’s current period of economic opportunity to diversify the economy, strengthen food and energy security, modernise infrastructure, and develop its human capital.
“The development of our oil-and-gas resources has created unprecedented opportunities for our country. But our ambition extends well beyond hydrocarbons,” he said, adding:
“We are determined to use this period of opportunity to diversify our economy, strengthen food and energy security, modernise our infrastructure, develop our human capital, and pursue a low-development pathway that is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient to climate change.”
He said the focus should not only be on what the two countries have already achieved together, but also on what more could be accomplished through the partnership.
According to Phillips, Guyana brings to the relationship abundant natural resources, significant biodiversity, agricultural and energy potential, a strategic geographic location, and, importantly, the talent and determination of its people.
Meanwhile, China brings extensive experience and expertise in technology, infrastructure, manufacturing, science, innovation and global connectivity.
The Prime Minister said the combination of these strengths could create opportunities for a partnership that generates lasting value, supports sustainable development, and delivers meaningful benefits to both countries.
One area he identified as having significant potential is sustainable urban development.
He said China’s experience in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, modern transportation and urban planning could complement Guyana’s efforts to develop cleaner, more efficient, connected and climate-resilient communities.
“As Guyana develops, we have an opportunity not simply to build bigger but to build better and to demonstrate that economic growth, environmental stewardship, and improved quality of life can advance together.”
Agriculture, he added, represents another area where Guyana and China could expand co-operation.
Phillips noted that Guyana has land, water and a longstanding agricultural tradition, while China has developed expertise in agricultural science, mechanisation, irrigation, food processing and agricultural technology.
He said deeper cooperation in these areas could help Guyana improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, expand value-added production and develop solutions suited to the challenges posed by a changing climate.
The Prime Minister also pointed to Guyana’s maritime space as an area with potential for greater co-operation.
He identified fisheries, aquaculture, marine science, environmental protection and sustainable ocean development as areas where Guyanese institutions could work alongside Chinese universities, research centres, enterprises and technical partners.
Such cooperation, Phillips said, could help build local capacity, advance knowledge, foster innovation and create new opportunities for Guyanese.
“Our maritime space, likewise, presents opportunities for deeper cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture, marine science, environmental protection, and sustainable ocean development. These are areas where Guyanese institutions, Chinese universities, research centres, enterprises, and technical partners can work together to build capacity, advance knowledge, foster innovation, and create new opportunities for our people.”
