The relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Antigua and Barbuda
has been ‘extremely beneficial’ for the government and people of the twin-island
state.
That’s the assessment of the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne
made during the signing of an agreement on Monday where the PRC is making
available a range of vital equipment that the country needs as it prepares to host
thousands of delegates for the Fourth Conference of Small Island Developing
States (SIDS4) from May 27-30.
His comments were made against the backdrop of recent attempts to undermine the
relationship between the two nations but also to harm its generations-long close
ties with the United States.
PM Browne reiterated that the posture of the Antigua and Barbuda government in
its outlook is one where it is ‘friends of all…enemy of none’. He added that
Antigua and Barbuda has urged both the United and China to cooperate ‘in the
interest of humanity’ noting that as the two largest economies in the world they
ought to seek areas of cooperation and collaboration rather than to engage in
‘geopolitical conflict’.
The prime minister expressed the view that there may be elements within the
opposition who may be attempting to drive a wedge between Antigua and Barbuda
and the PRC on one hand and the US on the other.
“Those who are trying to create these artificial conflicts, especially those who are
our political opponents who are joining others to create these conflicts, I wish to
assure the people of Antigua and Barbuda that my administration has not and will
not get involved in any geopolitical spat with any country. We will continue to
respect the sterling contributions of the PRC towards the development of Antigua
and Barbuda. We will continue to stand on the truth,” he declared.
PM Browne strongly rejected suggestions that China is ‘loan-sharking’ Antigua
and Barbuda and that I was attempting to ‘colonise’ the country through its loans.
“I say categorically to the people of Antigua and Barbuda that this was a lie as the
PRC has shown its benevolence not only here in Antigua and Barbuda, but across
the globe, especially among the poorer states,” he stated.
The prime minister said the Chinese leader ought to be complimented for making
funds available so that poorer nations may have a chance to attain their Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG’s).
