China’s vice-president on official visit to TT

Vice-president of China Zeng Qinghong arrived at Piarco International Airport after 4.00 pm yesterday aboard an Air China aircraft for a whirlwind visit. He came in from Venezuela and his visit  will culminate today with the signing of cultural and technical cooperation agreements as well as provision of a concessional loan. Police, army, coast guard and airport security were very visible for the first visit of one of China’s highest ranking officials. Personnel from the Chinese Embassy in TT displayed a banner welcoming the vice-president.

His Excellency was met by China’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Chiese Wang Zhiquan. He was escorted over to Prime Minister Patrick Manning who greeted and introduced him to Foreign Affairs Minister Knowlson Gift, Minister of Trade and Industry Ken Valley, and Minister in the Ministry of Finance Conrad Enill. Zeng Qinghong headed a delegation of more than 100 people including China’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhou Wenzhong, Vice-Minister of Finance Li Yong, Vice-Minister of Commerce, Ma Xiuhong, and Governor of China Import and Export Bank, Yang Zilin and the vice-president’s security personnel.

Representatives from the business sector and journalists from China and Hong Kong also accompanied the vice-president. His Excellency Zeng Qinghong was given a sample of TT’s culture courtesy the Defence Force Steel Orchestra. The vice-president along with other Chinese officials stopped to take a closer look during the performance of “Jubilance.” The music was taken from the repertoire of a Chinese ensemble. After the welcome at the airport he was taken to the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre where he met the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille Williams and later representatives of the Chinese community. President George Maxwell Richards will host a luncheon for the Chinese vice-president at noon today and at 3.50 pm visit to Lake Asphalt, La Brea. An official cultural reception is also planned. The delegation leaves tomorrow.