GUYANA and China are poised to deepen co-operation in areas including sustainable urban development, agriculture, energy, technology, healthcare and marine science, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has said.

Addressing a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown on Thursday at the Marriot Hotel to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Phillips said Guyana’s expanding economy and China’s expertise in technology, infrastructure, manufacturing and innovation presented opportunities for a broader partnership.

The Prime Minister said Guyana’s development of its oil and gas resources had created unprecedented opportunities, but stressed that the country’s ambitions extended beyond hydrocarbons.

He said Guyana was focused on diversifying its economy, strengthening food and energy security, modernising infrastructure, developing human capital and pursuing a sustainable and climate-resilient development pathway.

“Guyana now stands at a pivotal moment in its national development,” Phillips said, adding that the next phase of the relationship with China should focus not only on past achievements but on what both countries could accomplish together.

Guyana and China are this year commemorating 54 years of diplomatic relations, while Guyana celebrates 60 years of independence and China marks 77 years since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Phillips highlighted the longstanding nature of the bilateral relationship, noting that Guyana supported the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat at the United Nations in 1971 and became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1972.

He also pointed to the contribution of the Chinese community in Guyana, whose presence dates back to the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants in 1853.

According to Phillips, the relationship has evolved from diplomatic ties into practical co-operation in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education, transportation and human-resource development.

Among the projects cited was the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation International, which he said had strengthened connectivity between Regions Three and Four and was supporting the networks of an expanding economy.

Trade has also emerged as a significant component of the relationship. Phillips said two-way trade between Guyana and China reached approximately US$1.8 billion in 2025, while Guyana’s exports to China increased to US$501 million, making China Guyana’s eighth-largest export destination.

He said there was scope for further expansion of trade as Guyana continued to diversify its economy.

Healthcare co-operation was another area highlighted by the Prime Minister.

He pointed to the Guyana Six Regional Hospitals Project, under which Chinese enterprises have supported the development of modern healthcare facilities intended to improve access to healthcare in the regions.

Phillips also acknowledged the contribution of Chinese medical teams that have served Guyanese patients over the years, as well as Chinese-supported initiatives such as the Guyana-China Friendship Park.

He said co-operation in education and human-resource development was equally important, with Guyanese students benefitting from opportunities to study in China under the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme and other training and capacity-building initiatives.

Phillips further noted that Guyana and China cooperate through multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, World Trade Organization and Group of 77 and China, where both countries have worked to advance the interests of developing nations and support multilateralism.

Looking ahead, Phillips identified sustainable urban development as one area with significant potential for expanded co-operation.

He said Chinese experience in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, modern transportation and urban planning could complement Guyana’s efforts to build cleaner, more efficient and climate-resilient communities.

Agriculture, he added, presented another opportunity, given Guyana’s land, water resources and agricultural tradition and China’s experience in agricultural science, mechanisation, irrigation, food processing and technology.

He also identified fisheries, aquaculture, marine science, environmental protection and sustainable ocean development as areas in which Guyanese institutions could work with Chinese universities, research centres, enterprises and technical partners.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, meanwhile, said China’s development had been supported by long-term planning, innovation and an approach centred on shared progress.

She noted that 2026 marked the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and said China’s economy had continued to advance despite global uncertainty.

Yang said bilateral trade reached US$2.89 billion in 2025, which she described as more than double the 2024 level, while Chinese companies’ total investment in Guyana stood at approximately US$13 billion.

She also cited the opening of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge and the operation of the Aurora Solar Farm as examples of co-operation between the two countries. According to the ambassador, the solar project is expected to reduce diesel consumption by about 18 million litres annually.

The ambassador also highlighted co-operation in healthcare, saying that following the opening of six regional hospitals, nine Guyanese doctors travelled to Jiangsu this year for specialised training, while about 40 healthcare professionals participated in digital-healthcare training.

She said Chinese medical teams had served in Guyana for 33 years, treating nearly 1.31 million patients and performing more than 70,000 surgeries.

People-to-people exchanges have also expanded, with cultural and educational activities including the tour of the Hebei Acrobatic Troupe, the “Chinese Bridge” competition, the China Book Corner and a Dragon Boat Festival food and culture event at the University of Guyana.

Yang said China would continue to regard Guyana as a “trustworthy friend and good partner” as the two countries entered the next chapter of their relationship.

Phillips, in closing, said Guyana looked forward to working alongside China to build a future that was more prosperous, resilient, sustainable and inclusive.

He said the two countries’ longstanding relationship had demonstrated resilience and an ability to evolve with changing circumstances, while the opportunities ahead provided scope for further co-operation.