In a ceremony rich with symbolism and diplomatic significance, Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne was formally conferred the title of Honorary Professor by the prestigious Hangzhou Normal University (HNU)of the People’s Republic of China. This marks the first time in the university’s more than 100-year history that a sitting head of government has received such an honor.
The ceremony took place at the Office of the Prime Minister in Antigua and Barbuda and was attended by Professor Min Zhou, Dean of the School of International Studies and Director of the Centre for Caribbean Studies at HNU. The moment celebrated the deepening bonds of friendship between Antigua and Barbuda and China, as well as the academic and cultural bridges being built between the two nations.
Prime Minister Browne expressed his deep gratitude for the honorary title, stating that it reflected “the strong friendship between our countries and institutions” and praised the People’s Republic of China as “one of our closest and most reliable development partners.” He highlighted the long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship that has seen Chinese concessional loans and grants support for major infrastructure projects across Antigua and Barbuda, including the air and sea ports, social housing, the Five Islands Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
“This is not only a personal honor,” the Prime Minister declared, “but one that I accept on behalf of the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda.”
Professor Zhou lauded the Prime Minister’s leadership and international influence, describing him as a “statesman of vision and moral courage.” She recalled his visit to the university in January 2024, during which his keynote lecture on global solidarity and shared human destiny garnered tens of millions of views across Chinese media, becoming a viral sensation and further cementing his popularity and moral authority in China.
“No sitting head of state has ever been granted the title of honorary professor at our university—until today,” Professor Zhou stated. “Your voice has resonated across our nation. You have inspired dialogue and fostered the ideals of peace, unity, and shared prosperity.”
In his response, Prime Minister Browne emphasized the importance of strengthening“micro-organizational relationships” between institutions in both nations. He proposed a formal partnership between Hangzhou Normal University and the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, aimed at promoting academic exchange, research collaboration, and student mobility.
He also praised the role of China in advancingSouth-South cooperation, noting that China has outpaced even the World Bank in delivering concessional funding and development assistance to the Global South. “The PRC has been a steadfast ally in our development journey,” he said. “We support their philosophy of shared global prosperity.”
Both leaders emphasized the importance ofinternational cooperation over conflict, especially amid growing geopolitical tensions. Prime Minister Browne reiterated Antigua and Barbuda’s non-aligned, peace-focused foreign policy:
“We are too small to have enemies. We advocate peace, solidarity, and mutual development among all nations.”
He also spoke passionately about the shared African roots of humanity and the moral imperative for global unity in the face of inequality and climate challenges.
To commemorate the event, Prime Minister Browne was presented with symbolic gifts including a limited-edition China Post envelope, marking 35 years of friendship between Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China. A beautifully crafted pen used for the signing was also collected for display in HNU’s university museum. The Prime Minister returned the gesture by receiving and dedicating the honor to his nation, while his wife was presented with a traditional Chinese scarf, previously gifted to world leaders during the G20 summit.
As the ceremony concluded, Prime Minister Browne reflected on the honor bestowed upon him as a “blessing”—one that he would cherish not only personally, but as a testament to the unity and cooperation between Antigua and Barbuda and China.
“I am proud to join the academic community of Hangzhou Normal University,” he said. “May this partnership grow stronger, for the benefit of both our peoples and all of humanity.”
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