Under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, China has been delivering tangible benefits to developing countries globally. These are projects helping us to spur economic growth, increase revenue and to provide opportunities for people.”
by Xinhua writers Xi Yue and Miao Peiyuan
ST. JOHN’S, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) — Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister said his country would enhance its relationship with China across several areas.
“We will be enhancing, strengthening and broadening the bilateral relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China,” said Prime Minister Gaston Browne in an interview with Xinhua.
“We’ve had a very successful visit to China in which we have signed up to ten cooperation agreements in various areas of our development,” he said in the capital St. John’s after concluding his official visit to China.
During his visit to China, the two countries signed several bilateral cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation, trade, transportation, economic development, mutual visa exemption and climate change.
Antigua and Barbuda is an island country in the Eastern Caribbean with a population of more than 100,000. “In terms of the asymmetry of the size, power and resources, China always has exercised full respect and treated us with the type of respect that we have not seen in other relationships,” Browne said, adding that the type of respect and mutual trust has built the relationship.
Antigua and Barbuda is one of the first countries in the Eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with China. “The two countries have enjoyed very strong diplomatic relations for the last 41 years,” Browne emphasized.
Over the years, the cooperative relations between Antigua and Barbuda and China have developed steadily in infrastructure, economic and trade investment, people-to-people exchanges, agriculture and climate change, he said.
Antigua and Barbuda is the first country in the Eastern Caribbean to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on the Belt and Road Initiative. In Browne’s view, “under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, China has been delivering tangible benefits to developing countries globally. These are projects helping us to spur economic growth, increase revenue and to provide opportunities for people.”
“We have received support in practically all areas of development.” Browne praised China for helping his country with disaster relief. “During the period of our crisis with hurricane Irma in 2017, China was one of the first movers and one of the largest contributors to our recovery. We are thankful and very grateful.”
During the visit to China, Browne visited Beijing, Zhejiang and Shanghai. This is his second visit after nearly 10 years, remarking on changes in the country’s urban landscape and digitalization.
Browne also said Antigua and Barbuda could bolster its green credentials via Chinese technology.
Antigua and Barbuda will host the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in May. Browne said that Antigua and Barbuda attaches great importance to the sustainable development goals, to which China has made significant contributions.
As for regional cooperation, Browne said that as a member of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community, Antigua and Barbuda is willing to “cooperate to promote the relations between China and other Caribbean countries and encourage them to continue, to strengthen the relationship with China.”
“We could utilize our influence and make sure that you know there is greater collaboration and cooperation going forward in the future,” he added.
In Browne’s view, the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are also full of highlights and have broad space for cooperation. “Even though we have very limited financial and human resources, we have large ambitions for our people. In order to achieve those, we need to have a carriage of well-qualified people. This is where China is helping us,” he said.
Antigua and Barbuda has a pleasant climate, rich tourism resources and many high-quality beaches. Browne welcomed Chinese tourists to travel to Antigua and Barbuda.
At present, Antigua and Barbuda and China have mutually exempt visa policies. Browne expressed his hope to see Chinese tourists soon in Antigua and Barbuda.
(Xinhua reporters Zhao Kai, Yan Liang, Li Mengxin and Xuan Liqi contributed to this story.)■
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
China is just a pimp prostituting these poor, hungry belly Nations.
A pimp will always make sure, that their #whores are well maintained, since, they’re their bread_n_butter.
China is just doing to the children of the European, dried up prostitutes what those European pimps did to them.
It’s the same enslavement game with a different master, different overlords controlling new prostitutes(slaves) for the pimp(China the Slave_Master).
The recent AMMENDMENT(S), to ‘laws,’ to avoid the creation, of a State within a State is proof, of how
the overlords, overseers, local pimps, politicians view their people.
It’s too late now for Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA. The Chinese have now established their warehouses on the island(Antigua), to distribute their goods to the local market, through their local establishments in all parishes.
Unlike the Serians, Whites, Lebanese, some blacks who had to travel to Asia, South and North America to source their goods, as wholesalers, then return them to Antigua(Shouls, Michaels, Birds, Hadeeds) and distribute them locally(hail, Missa Mego_Man, ah wah U hab dey?), the Chinese simply have to place their orders from China/Taiwan/Hong Kong), and once arrived in Antigua their port(the New Container Storage will be under their control), stored to their local distribution centers and swamp the market.
The Lebanese and Serians have to be concerned. Fortunately, they diversified, and got into Public Utilities and real estate(lands & buildings).
So, yes to you Chinese PROPOGANDISTS #WHO’RE writing these propoganda pieces, to pacify the unsuspecting Nationals, of the Caribbean; while, many of Us, single handedly cannot stop the Chinese Trojan Horse, we know the game, The Art of War is shadowed by the Art of Deception, and you MUST be called out for who you are, regardless, of how many trinkets you drop off on our shores for your overseers, overlords to feel appeased by for them selling out their people, like those Black African Slave catchers and overseers, in Africa did, they’ll still suffer like a #rabid_animal.
#SAY NO TO CHINESE AGGRESSION!
#SAY NO TO CHINESE IMPERIALISM!
Yes BRICS MATTERS, but it’s just another WORLD ORDER to deal with, and the DEVIL you know, is better than, the DEVIL YOU DON’T know!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Reminds me of what happened a country in West Africa. The country produced onions, tomatoes and chicken to satisfy its market. The government signed a free trade zone deal with some European countries, and they swamped the country with their cheap products putting the local farmers out of business. The unemployed farmers and now taking overcrowded ships to illegally enter Europe and are drowning at sea. Those who make it to places like Italy, are living and working in slave like conditions on the farms producing what they formerly produced at home.
The Chinese are looking out for what is good for their people. They like when they meet a fool like Gaston who thinks that he is their friend and would sell out Antiguans and their assets to them for self enrichment. What does he think? The Chinese is a benevolent godfather?
Antiguans were rid of the white masters, but now we are getting Chinese. Look out Antigua, the Chinese and dictatorship are on their way.
Indeed, ras!
Here we have it , our pm perfunctorily lay a wreathe in china in respect of their cultural norms, but in Antigua devil’s bridge national park sold and barbudans labelled deracinated imbecile, but he got to acknowledge these Chinese heroes, it’s done without emotions.
Mutual not Mutal.
@Ras Smood.
The Chinese must be laughing their heads off at the less than bright useful idiot Antigua and Barbuda has as a leader. ” mutual respect” my foot. Who has respect for a perpetual borrower who cannot repay his debt? Tell me. The Chinese flatter him.with the red carpet treatment and he is oh so pleased with himself. Having swamped our once peaceful island with the lowest of the low ( the decent folk from those Caribbean countries excepted), with the resulting spike in the crime rate, our Visionary Leader has waived his magic wand and sold out Antigua and Barbuda to the Chinese. Note the pride with which he spoke to the newly appointed High Commissioner from Jamaica of the cosmopolitan nature of Antigua. Hey ho! Born and bred Antiguans are not too sure about this. They complain about now being a minority in their own land. Land? Very little left of it by any account. The Chinese will want their pound of flesh of course. Which lender doesn’t want payment for what they are owed? MOUs, Mutal Respect and all the rest are all part and parcel of this game of Chinese Checkers. Lots more Chinese to be off loaded to our cramped space. ABS and Chinese Media Group to link up? What on earth is this all about. If you are asleep you might awake to the sound of Mandolins in.the moonlight or even Mandarin at sunrise. They’re on.their way.
…all generalizations…
…but I have to ask: what “…trade” with China?
You’ll tell me which western country ever assist Caribbean countries to develop their sea or air ports.
The past colonizers took out natural resources for little of nothing to develop their own countries, all we get from them are lectured and sanctions, Cuba assist us more than any of these superpowers in the west.
China bring infrastructure development to better our economy, not lecture and sanctions to make us worst off.
Most Countries are joining the BRICS Nations and leaving the G7, IMF and World bank draconian policies and the west sanctions. As a BRICS member you are treated as equal partner not less than and be called shit hole countries.
Antigua and Barbuda can not live in a vacuum, we have to trade with other Nations, the BRICS Nations are overtaking the West both Economically and financially, things are shifting to the east, The BRICS nations are trading amongst themselves using their own currencies, because the west has used the US$ as a political weapon.
The US DEPT is almost 34 trillion and growing, since COVID-19 the US print more money than before the petrodollar agreement was put in place to this day.
These billions they are sending to Israel and Ukraine to support their wars are dept they will float as bonds for other countries to buy, they are killing the dollar by using it as a weapon.
I believe that Antigua and Barbuda is making a great geopolitical move to get better leverage for our economy and national debt, from the BRICS World Bank
@Geopolitic issues
What is Antigua trading, our lands? As far as I know, we don’t produce anything. It is one thing to get Chinese loans to build the port and the airport. Don’t repay the loans and see if they don’t take the assets.
If Antigua money didn’t keep disappearing, and the country was properly managed, a large portion of these loans wouldn’t be required
Keep on dreaming about making a great political move.
What does Antigua and Barbuda trade with the Western superpower Colonian nations? China do not take away your project, if you fail to make your payment they will come in and assist you to run the project in a way so it can pay its loan.
It is not like a car loan you get from the bank and if you fail to pay the bank take away the car and sell it.
That is fake news the mainstream media feed us, and they program most of us to believe and run with it, stop believe what the main stream media is feeding you, go behind the scene and DYOR.
@Geopolitical Issues..:we don’t need the Chinese, to “run” our vital public sector businesses, in Our Natipn. Do we want to do business with China , a resounding yes! But, not to run, manage our public sector! Greed amongst the generation(s), right after the physical end, of the European TransAtlantic Slave Trade, got our Nation in positions, whereby, we’re going around practically #Pan_Handling for monies.
As far as, the #Western World, as you term it goes and their lack of support, or thereof, for Our Nation’s in the Caribbean, let me be absolutely clear, pellucid, on the EDUCATION front alone, and less you forget many Chinese Scientists and scholars were educated in the WEST, when The People’s Republic of China sent hundreds of thousands, of Chinese all over the HUEman world, to copy many inventions and return them to China to be mass produced, in China’s Slave Manufacturing Industry; adding insult to injury, miilions of Chinese who resisted the Mau’s Zedong Movement, and were slaughtered, not but 80 years ago; shit, I’m almost 80yrs. My mother is still alive and almost to 100yrs young. By the way, I fuss with her too about, being enslaved(mentally).
So, yes #Bot Geopolitic_Issues, the Western system of governance treat some of us with DARKER HUES, better cognitive abilities, athleticism, looks, positive earthly blessings with disdain, cause many much pain with all of the “ISMS & SKISMS, SHITSTEMS, but many of us millions from the Caribbean are a TESTAMENT to what we got from these Western Nations. EDUCATION! EDUCATION! EDUCATION!
In my small circle of blood relatives, it consists of; from FEDERAL JUDGE to ENGINEERS to MD’s to PhD’s to me just a simple Carpenter who can take a project from a surveyors stakes, to giving the owners their U&O PERMIT! And; of course AGRICULTURE! They say, I got a ‘green_thumb,’ nah! I n I have a symbiotic relationship with the Essence, of Nature’s Ether.
We could not, as a family, achieve such in China, as we did and still doing in the West.
Now, as to Our ports, plain and simple, PPP – Piss Poor Planning and PPM – Piss Poor Management! Our International Airport was in part, built alongside, the British then American Naval Base. We had a template to enhance, with matrices conducive to OUR NEEDS, but ‘lang_yeye_politician, got drunk, cack_up, lose dem Muddah_Mary Position and tun prostitutes, whores and #pan_handlers.
So, go #Bot Neopolitic Issues, report to your handlers, HUEman’s like myself will do business with China, but China can never control Us and Our FREEDOM, as they are desperately trying and succeeding in the Caribbean.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
As a People, we more than have the capacity and ability, it’s the lack of cooperation, amongst
Folks, yes Our Nation has something to offer China, besides Our lands. It’s the wide open ocean and sea which surrounds our Nation.
Seafood is big business in China, we hear of our spiny lobster being exported to China.
There are many species of animals in the sea, which we do not consume but the Chinese do. Example sea urchins, sea cucumbers, eels etc.
The Chinese Trawling/Fishing Fleets cannot be monitored nor controlled by our one #Spruce_Goose Air Force, no navy ships to track them, therefore, they [will] have free reign to trawl, harvest, package, market and sell these products. There is very little wastage, since, even the scales, bones and entrails are the base materials for cat and dog food plus fish fertilizer for farming.
So while in the open, it may appear to be just[land] which we have to offer, think again. There’s more in the mortar, than the pestle!
The Art Of War is shadowed by, The Art Of Deception!
Ras Smood, you are right about our lobsters. This past Christmas, my contact in Barbuda said he was not selling to Antiguans. I guess the millionaires and billionaires and the Chinese bought up all at a premium.
@ras. Well said.speak to these fools who are as blind as Gatson Browne himself.
What they are also not seeing, is China is a non-extradition country, so when the shit hit the fan, he Gaston Browne, has somewhere to run and hide and lay his head, while the poor people of Antigua will be left with nothing, and slaving for China.
Trust me, that’s what’s coming.
@Islanman26…I understand animal behavior(s) to some degree!
I don’t get too many “holes in one,” but with me, even after six plus decades, I still seek improvement(s), especially, in challenging situations!
One can also lead “animals” to water, but they may not all drink, at the same time. Some are nocturnal. Some are fearful.
But, hey! By the way, I started donating golf gears to the sporting department years ago. There’s a correlation between golf and cricket, which we can enhance in the schools in Antigua.
If you’re so inclined, and you’re in the B’more, #Body_More – DMV area drop a word, if you got the time, we have some great public courses in the area. I could always use some “tips!”
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Most definitely @ras.
Can you’ll let me know what China has done to stifle Antigua and Barbuda economy? Seems like you guys love punishment and setback with sanctions from the western superpowers.
Look how they killed the online gaming industry, they force our Governments to put laws in place that the common man are unable to own a bank account.
It is all about their own interest, and everyone eals can suck salt, they have more money laundering going on in their country by their big banks than and where in the world, but still they are fighting down other countries for money laundering. I guess you all are satisfied with the little twinkling that trickle down from them to us.
@Geopolitic issues.
China aims to have world dominance by year 2050. In my opinion it won’t happen. China is where it is today because of the West in case you have forgotten. How come? Not many years ago, Western companies moved to China where production costs were far less than in their home countries. The Chinese spotted a chance: You are welcome to set up shop in China but you must teach us the secrets of how to make and manufacture goods etc. Of course the Western companies agreed (remember production costs). The outcome is China has caught up with the West and is where it is today. Picking off poor countries especially in Africa is part of its plan of world dominance. Fast forward to very poor, beggarly Antigua and Barbuda with its corrupt leadership is easy meat. Build a substandard clinic or two (doors and windows soon swing in the wind) and the useful idiot in charge will point to ” mutual cooperation”. As for trade (?), another poster asked quite rightly , what have we got to trade? Your answer, spiny lobster and that’s it. Soon there will be none of those left to satisfy the voracious appetite of the Chinese. Western nations are never keen on giving their taxpayers money to corrupt outfits. That may be a factor in their reluctance to give the help you speak of. Pause for thought.
Comments are closed.