On December 21, 2025, the 8th Chinese Medical Team assigned to Barbados arrived in the country and was warmly welcomed at the airport by Davidson Ishmael, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness; Permanent Secretary Wayne Webster; Chinese Ambassador to Barbados Zheng Bingkai; Counsellor Lei Hao; staff of the Chinese Embassy; all members of the 7th Chinese Medical Team; as well as representatives from local Chinese enterprises and the overseas Chinese community. On December 23, a handover ceremony was held between the outgoing and incoming medical teams at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Attendees included Barbados’ Minister of State for Health and Wellness Davidson Ishmael, Permanent Secretary Wayne Webster, Ambassador Zheng Bingkai, Counsellor Lei Hao, hospital management, and all members of both medical teams.

Minister of State Ishmael warmly welcomed the arrival of the 8th Chinese Medical Team. He spoke highly of the significant contributions made by Chinese medical teams to the health of the Barbadian people and the improvement of local healthcare standards, and expressed his commitment to further expand and deepen China-Barbados cooperation in the health sector.

Ambassador Zheng Bingkai noted that the Chinese medical teams have made remarkable contributions to enhancing the friendly relations between China and Barbados. He stated that the handover between the two teams carries profound meaning, symbolizing both the continuation of a mission and a new beginning. The Ambassador fully affirmed the accomplishments of the 7th medical team and emphasized that the arrival of the new team marks a fresh chapter in China-Barbados medical cooperation. He called for continued close collaboration between both sides to further elevate bilateral health cooperation to a higher level.