Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne is today in Beijing where he is leading an
Antigua and Barbuda delegation on a week-long visit to the People’s Republic of
China.
Prime Minister Browne is accompanied by Health, Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister
for Foreign Affairs, E. P Chet Greene, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the
People’s Republic of China, Brian Stuart-Young, Chairman of the National Solid
Waste Management Authority, Michael Joseph and Chief of Staff in the Office of
the Prime Minister, Ambassador Lionel Hurst.
During the visit, the Antigua and Barbuda delegation and their Chinese
counterparts will sign ten Memoranda of Understanding to include an agreement to
address Climate Change under the framework of South-South Cooperation, an
agreement to accelerate the formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and
Road initiative and an agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption.
Minister for Health, Wellness, Social Transformation and the Environment, Sir
Molwyn Joseph will sign an agreement with Alibaba Damo Academy and
Hospitals for the provision of equipment for early cancer screening and digital
health and to provide doctors with AI-powered tools. The agreement will also
provide a framework for the identification of chronic diseases.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, E. P. Chet Greene will sign an agreement on a
Water Rehabilitation Project along with an agreement for the provision of
equipment for the Port of St. John’s for aiding in the Anti-Narcotics Laboratory
Project funded by China. Minister Greene will also sign an agreement between the
China Media Group (CMG) and the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services
(ABS) for strengthening development and cooperation.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne will join with other members of the
Antigua and Barbuda in the official opening of the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy
in the People’s Republic of China.
On Wednesday, the country’s leader will have his first official meeting with
President Xi Jinping and members of his Cabinet where discussions will centre
around a community of shared future for mankind and the Global Development
Initiative.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Browne is expected to highlight China’s
commitment to create a better future for developing countries whose majority
populations are challenged because of debt, denial to established capital markets,
and natural disasters.
In the past, Prime Minister Browne has stated that the Chinese vision of a global
community of shared future has been deepened and its scope widened to bring
prosperity, stability and substantive benefits to millions of people worldwide, in
need of relief.
Antigua and Barbuda has been a beneficiary. Within the past ten years, China has
contributed two health clinics that serve a significant fraction of the population of
Antigua. China has also built the classrooms and administrative blocs that now
form the core of the University at Five Islands, Antigua, at no cost.
In addition, the China Export/Import Bank has financed the complete rehabilitation
of the St. John’s Cargo Seaport, and the modernization of the International Airport
terminal.
Scholarships at several Universities for students have been a plank of the
development drive; as well as cultural exchanges. This year, China has offered
five scholarships through the Chinese Scholarship Council and a choice of 200
post-graduate scholarships through the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China
Programme.