On March 28, 2023, Yan Xiusheng, Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the China-Aid Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship Project in Barbados. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, along with Minister of Education Kay McConney, Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir, former Ambassador to China Senator Dr Chelston Brathwaite, Member of Parliament for St Thomas Cynthia Forde, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UWI, Cave Hill Campus R. Clive Landis, and nearly 70 representatives from relevant Barbados government departments and various sectors also participated in the ceremony. Local mainstream media such as CBC (Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation), Nation and Barbados Today reported on the event.
Ambassador Yan pointed out in his speech that the assistance in the China-Aid Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship Project is a concrete step in the implementation of the spirit of the phone conversation between H.E President Xi Jinping and the Hon. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. It is of great significance to promote the economic recovery of Barbados from the covid-19 pandemic, ensure national food security, and improve both the level of agricultural development and wellbeing of the people. It is hoped that the project team will work fervently to implement the design requirements with regards to quality, adhere to production safety, and maintain environmental protection, while ensuring that the Project is successfully completed on schedule. As such, the China-Aid Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship Project will serve as a new benchmark for China-Barbados friendship.
Ambassador Yan said that the year 2023 marks the beginning of full implementation of the guiding principles laid down at the 20th CPC National Congress. It is also an important year for the friendly relations between China and Barbados to enter a new stage of development. The government of China is ready to work with the government of Barbados to implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mottley, and continues to promote cooperation between our two countries in key areas such as infrastructure, food security, medical care, culture and education, and further tap the cooperation potential in digital economy, blue economy, new energy and modern agriculture, and build an even closer China-Barbados community of shared future.
Prime Minister Mottley expressed in her speech that Barbados and China have been good friends and partners who trust each other for 46 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two countries have carried out extensive cooperation in various fields such as economy, culture, education, agriculture and sports, achieving fruitful results. China has provided multiple supports to Barbados including gratuitous aid, preferential loans and human resources training which are deeply appreciated by the government and people of Barbados.
Prime Minister Mottley also pointed out that eliminating food security threats is still a common challenge faced by the international community under factors such as climate change, pandemic impact and global economic slowdown. The China-Aid Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship Project along with the Hope Agricultural Training Institute Project are of great significance for Barbados’ agricultural development, food security, realizing "2025 Plan" and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Barbadian side will fully cooperate with the Chinese side in construction, jointly promote the early completion of the Project, and make the Project a new benchmark for Barbados-China friendship.
