Barbados & China celebrate 47 years of diplomatic relations

Honesty, cooperation, and mutual respect for one another are the cornerstones of Barbados' relationship with the People's Republic of China.

These ideas were emphasised at a recent celebration of 47 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries held at the Chinese Embassy.

Xiusheng, the Chinese ambassador to Barbados, emphasised the ongoing strengthening of ties and productive collaboration in a number of areas of shared interest.

He stressed that the current state of relations between China and Barbados is the best it has ever been. Education, development assistance, agriculture, and people-to-people interactions are important areas of engagement.

The ambassador commended the government of Barbados for its unwavering adherence to the one-China principle, which serves as the foundation for their bilateral relationship.

For China's reunification efforts and to keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful and stable, this support is essential.

Agreements and initiatives such the building of the national stadium, the completion of the Sam Lord's Castle Wyndham Hotel, the China-Aid Centre for Food Security, and the Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project are just a few examples of China's recent development aid to Barbados.

China is eager to collaborate with Barbados to advance the execution of the significant agreement that the leaders of both nations have achieved, according to Ambassador Xiusheng.

Barbados Government Information Service's (GIS) Chief Information Officer, Tyson Henry, recognised the value of the department's collaboration with China in updating its communications strategy. In the current digital era, he underlined the significance of effective communication.

Last year, the GIS and the Xinhua News Agency in Guangzhou inked a Memorandum of Understanding that produced immediate advantages like Beijing-based information officer training sessions.

Notable speakers at the celebration included David Bulbulia, co-director of the Confucius Institute at The University of the West Indies, and Dr. DeLisle Worrell, president of the Association for Barbados-China Friendship, among others.