Kamla: Caribbean has benefitted from China

The PM made the remark while delivering a farewell toast to China’s president during a luncheon at Hilton Trinidad yesterday.

Persad-Bissessar was responding to what the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) described as China’s offer of “a hand of friendship” and its commitment to work with Caribbean leaders.

Heads of State from several Caricom countries also attended the event, which immediately followed a morning meeting between their delegations and the visiting Chinese

OPM also stated yesterday afternoon that Xi had requested the meeting with Caribbean leaders as part of his state visit to TT.

As previously reported, China’s Head of State was scheduled to meet the leaders of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname and Jamaica.

In a statement issued upon his arrival last Friday, Xi said he looked forward to discussing bilateral ties with Caribbean leaders and exploring together ways to boost cooperation.

“I believe that with the concerted efforts of all participants, these meetings will be successful and elevate the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Caribbean countries to a new level,” Xi stated.

During his just-concluded visit, Xi announced China’s intention to expand the relationship between TT and China through trade, aid and cultural ties.

OPM noted that in 2012, China’s trade with Latin America reached US $261 billion — a nine percent increase over the previous year.

“TT is seeking to expand its links with Beijing in energy, infrastructural development, agriculture and food security, education, sport, information and communication technology and national security,” OPM stated.

President Xi has invited the PM to visit China in November, an invitation which Persad- Bissessar has since accepted. She made reference to the pending trip during the farewell luncheon, stating “though China is geographically on the other side of our planet, we are never far...While there is pain in parting, there is joy in the anticipation of our meeting again.”

TT is set to open its first embassy in Beijing later this year, 39 years after establishing diplomatic relations with China.

Earlier in the day, the hallway leading to the Grand Ballroom at Hilton Trinidad was a hive of activity, as men and women in business attire made their way to and from meetings with China’s President, Xi Jinping, and his entourage prior to their mid-afternoon flight to Costa Rica.

Members of the Chinese media pool who are accompanying Xi on his regional tour, which also includes stops in Mexico and the United States, were observed in the hallway too but local media was barred from entering the venue.

Newsday asked to speak with someone from the Chinese Embassy in an attempt to gain permission to enter but the local police officer on duty shook his head no and said “they are not letting in anyone. Only guests and Chinese media are allowed inside.”

When this reporter said it was unfair to deprive local media of the opportunity to cover an event being held in Trinidad, the same police officer replied “they (Chinese delegation) paid for everything. They paid for this entire floor. Taxpayers aren’t footing this bill.”

And so it was only Chinese media invited to the luncheon, which was also attended by this country’s President, Anthony Carmona.