Beijing, July 3 (CNBC) -- According to the China Central Radio and Television Corporation's Voice of China "60 Noon", on June 27, President Xi Jinping and President Ali of the Guyana Cooperative Republic exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Guizhou relations have made great progress, political mutual trust between the two sides has deepened day by day, and pragmatic cooperation has achieved remarkable results. Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the people of the two countries have worked together to help each other and write a new chapter in the friendship between China and Guizhou. I attach great importance to the development of China-Calibre relations and am willing to work with President Ali to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to push China-Kyrgyzstan relations to a new level and benefit the two countries and peoples.
On July 3, the special program "Great Power Diplomacy" launched "50 Years after the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, How Can China Continue to Write a New Chapter of Friendship with the First Country to Establish Diplomatic Relations in the English-Speaking Caribbean Region?" ——Interview with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan (Courtesy of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana)
Reporter: Ambassador Guo, thank you for accepting our exclusive interview. Speaking of Guyana, we are not very familiar with it. First of all, would you like to briefly introduce the country of Guyana, what is your impression of Guyana?
Guo Haiyan: Okay, Liu Le, it's a pleasure to be interviewed by you. Geographically, Guyana is indeed a bit far away. It is in the north of the South American continent, the Atlantic Ocean to the north, or the northern hemisphere, relatively close to the equator, and it is "summer" all year round, which is relatively hot. The capital, Georgetown, is home to the Caribbean Community Secretariat. Guyana is a diverse country, with more than 80% of its land area covered by forests and rich in biodiversity. When I arrived here, I often woke up in the morning to see beautiful birds resting on the railing outside the window of my house, very close to nature. Guyana is also culturally diverse and a multi-ethnic country. Beginning in the mid-19th century, more than 15,000 Chinese contract laborers came to Guyana, and the Chinese became one of Guyana's multi-ethnic groups. So, although China and Guyana are far apart, it doesn't feel strange to be here. In recent years, because of the start of oil production, Guyana's development has ushered in a good time, and the economic growth rate has been particularly bright during the epidemic. Guyana is becoming a new investment hotspot.
China's assistance to the maintenance project of the Arthur Chung Conference Center in Guyana (Photo provided by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana)
CNBC: June 27 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Guyana. Ambassador Guo, what is the history of exchanges between China and Guizhou? How do you see the development of China-Cuban relations in the past half century?
Guo Haiyan: Guyana was the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China. Both sides cherish this friendship. In fact, the two sides had important political exchanges before the establishment of diplomatic relations. As early as 1962, Ms. Jenny Jagan, General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party of Guyana, visited China, and she was received by Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou that year. Both Jagan and his wife later served as presidents of Guyana. In 1966, Guyana became independent, and the Chinese side recognized it for the first time, and Premier Zhou Enlai sent a congratulatory message. In the 1971 United Nations General Assembly, the two sides had not yet established diplomatic relations, but Guyana voted in favor of General Assembly Resolution 2758, recognizing the representative of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of all of China. On June 27, 1972, the two sides signed the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations in London, England, and on the same day, China opened an embassy in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.
Guo Haiyan: In the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both sides have maintained high-level exchanges. Last year, President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with President Ali of Guyana. China and Guizhou not only respect each other, equality and mutual trust, but also have many similarities in the concept of development, such as the two sides insist that "development should be people-centered". Therefore, the exchanges between leaders have played a very important leading role in the development of bilateral relations.
Guo Haiyan: In the past 50 years, the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of politics, economy, culture and education, and medical and health care have made great progress. In particular, it is worth mentioning that China's medical aid to Guyana is a "golden signboard" in the relations between the two countries. Since the outbreak, Guyana is also the first English-speaking Caribbean country to receive Chinese assistance for COVID-19 vaccines. Many of Guyana's students studying in China also choose medicine and related majors. It can be said that the cooperation between China and Guyana in the field of health care is a vivid portrayal of the joint construction of a community of common destiny between China and Guizhou.
In February 2022, the 17th medical team went deep into the tropical rainforest to carry out three roving medical treatments (photo provided by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana)
Reporter: Ambassador Guo, what tangible benefits have the pragmatic cooperation between China and Guizhou brought to the people of both sides? What are the next key areas of cooperation?
Guo Haiyan: China and Guyana signed the Belt and Road Agreement in 2018, and the two sides will continue to explore in depth how to better align the development strategies of the two countries and cooperation in specific areas under the framework of the Belt and Road. Developing countries generally face bottlenecks such as infrastructure, technology and talent, and China-Guizhou cooperation can help to crack these bottlenecks. Over the years, China has helped Guyana build some infrastructure through aid and enterprise participation in construction, which has played an important role in Guyana's economic and social development. Human resources training is also an important part of the cooperation between the two sides, and the Chinese side has held a series of trainings according to the needs of the other side, which truly embodies the spirit of "teaching people to fish" (not fishing but fishing), and also reflects Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought "the world sentiment of establishing oneself and reaching people".
Guo Haiyan: In terms of trade you mentioned, for a long time, China's mechanical and electrical products, steel products, textiles, etc. have been inexpensive, enriching the market supply in Guyana and reducing the production and living costs of the local people. In recent years, Guyana's agriculture, forestry, fisheries and other specialty commodities have also increasingly entered the Chinese market. After the epidemic or after the improvement, we also welcome domestic enterprises to come to Guyana to understand the local market situation and seek more cooperation opportunities.
On June 28, 1972, the front page of the Guyana Chronicle published the establishment of diplomatic relations between Guizhou and China at the ambassadorial level (photo provided by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana)
CNBC: Ambassador Guo, a few days ago, you published a signed article in the Guyana Chronicle entitled "Building a Better Future for the China-Canada Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership." What role does Guyana play in China's relations with Caribbean countries? What are your expectations for the future development of China-Canada relations?
Guo Haiyan: Thank you for paying attention to my article. As I said in the article, China-Kenya relations are the starting point for China's relations with the English-speaking Caribbean, because it was the first to establish diplomatic relations. Both of us look forward to Guyana's continued important role in China's relations with caribbean countries. At present, the development of human society is facing unprecedented challenges, and in order to cope with the challenges, the awareness and actions of Caribbean countries to unite and strengthen themselves are increasing. As Guyana's economy accelerates, so does its role and influence in regional affairs. There is still potential for cooperation between China and Guyana and the Caribbean in the fields of agriculture and coping with gas change. In addition to intergovernmental cooperation, we also welcome enterprises from both sides to actively explore cooperation in agricultural planting, processing, transportation, green development, and scientific and technological innovation.
On May 11, 2022, Ambassador Guo Haiyan published a signed article in the Guyana Chronicle entitled "Building a Better Future for the China-Canada Comprehensive Partnership" (courtesy of the official website of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana)