CHINA’S Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, recently emphasised the importance of local needs, realities and talent to effective development.

She was at the time speaking at the launch of the Roots of Flavour- Culinary Arts Centre at the  Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) building at Cove and John on the East Coast of Demerara.

During her remarks, she said: “Effective development must start with local needs, local realities, and local talent.”

Ambassador Yang said that the newly launched centre has the Chinese Embassy’s support, as it offers new skills, new ideas and new opportunities to women.

She related that it captures the spirit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), helping women turn skills into income, and ideas into business.

The Ambassador revealed that the People’s Republic of China has learned a similar lesson through its own development.

“In China, equality between women and men is a basic state policy. We have continued to strengthen the potential of women’s rights while creating more opportunities for women in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Today, Chinese women are contributing to every field of our economy and society as doctors and teachers, scientists and engineers, entrepreneurs and community leaders. This is also an important part of the China-Guyana co-operation,” the Ambassador said.

She further noted that when people think of the China-Guyana bilateral relationship, they may first think of roads, bridges, hospitals, trade, and investment. However, while these are important, co-operation is also needed. Co-operation, she explained, is about making a difference in the lives of ordinary people daily.

The Ambassador noted that this can mean a doctor learns a new medical technique, a young person gains a useful skill, or a woman earns a better way of life for her family from her own strength.

Similar to cooking, there is no “one-size-fits-all” recipe for development. A good dish starts with the right local ingredients.

Ambassador Yang expressed, “In the same way, effective development must start with local needs, local realities, and local talent. China does not come together with a ready-made recipe for development. We come as a partner, sharing our experience and resources where we can, learning from our Guyanese friends, and working together to find solutions that meet Guyana’s own needs.”

The Chinese Ambassador has shared similar views in the past, highlighting that as Guyana experiences rapid growth and transformation, and as new opportunities for advancements continue to emerge, skilled professionals will play an increasingly important role in supporting economic diversification, strengthening key sectors, and ensuring benefits of growth are widely shared.