Bahamas and China strengthen ties
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| Published on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 |
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by Lindsay Thompson
NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas and China are strengthening ties on a number of levels, heightened by the visit of Yikang Jiang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from November 15 to 17, 2009.
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| Yikang Jiang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China visited The Bahamas from November 15 to 17, 2009. He was welcomed at the VIP Lounge at the Lynden Pindling International Airport by Bahamian and Chinese officials. Pictured from left are Hu Dingxian, China’s Ambassador to The Bahamas; Yikang; Carl Bethel, Minister of Education; and Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. (BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham) |
Yikang is also Secretary of the CPC Standing Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China.
He was greeted by Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hu Dingxian, Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, and other officials when he arrived at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on Sunday.
The Bahamas was part of a three-nation tour for him. He also visited Mexico and Cuba. The purpose of his visit was to enhance relations and a better understanding between both countries diplomatically and politically.
Yikang also paid courtesy calls on Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister; Lynn Holowesko, President of the Senate; and Alvin Smith, and Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Yikang, 56, was born in Zhaoyuan City in Shandong Province, home to the company which is building the national stadium at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.
Symonette said it was a pleasure to welcome Yikang to The Bahamas, the third Chinese official to visit this year. Hui Liangyu, Vice Premier in the State Council visited in February; and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, in September.
Symonette said The Bahamas will be participating in Shanghai Expo 2010, which features the culture of Caribbean nations.
President of the Senate Holowesko said athletes from a small country like The Bahamas proved that they can excel in the world. So, the “marvellous gift” of the national stadium “takes on greater significance,” she said.
As climate change is a concern for The Bahamas, it is interested in the advances China has made in the use of renewable sources of energy, Holowesko said.
The Bahamas is also interested in learning more about China’s rich cultural heritage culture, she added.
Yikang said China “is deeply moved” by the level of cooperation between it and The Bahamas and that his visit sought to further cement such relations.
Although both countries are far apart geographically, he said, the growing friendship is reflected by the high level visits of Chinese officials, and mutual cooperation in tourism, culture, and the economy.
China appreciates that The Bahamas has been adhering to the ‘One China’ policy, which states that the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China, established in 1992, he said.
The Government of The Bahamas and China established diplomatic relations with the signing of a Joint Communiqué on May 23, 1997. | | | | Reads : 779 | | | |
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