China, Guyana agree to boost trade and investment ties

Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for stronger cooperation to promote steady growth of China-Guyana relations during talks with Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Todd on Monday in Beijing.

Guyana was the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic ties with China and now China's largest trading partner in the region.

During the meeting, Wang affirmed China's support for Guyana's independent development path and called for deeper cooperation through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

He proposed strengthening collaboration in energy, mining, agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, and infrastructure, while also exploring new areas such as the digital and green economies.

China will encourage its enterprises to invest in Guyana to support industrial upgrading and economic self-reliance, Wang said.

Noting that China's development is not rooted in colonialism or geopolitical calculations, he said China will continue standing with developing countries, especially small and medium-sized nations, to uphold international fairness and justice, and work with the Global South to defend the core status of the United Nations and the basic norms governing international relations.

Todd noted that he has visited China for three consecutive years and witnessed the deepening friendship between the two countries.

He praised Chinese companies' contributions to Guyana's development and welcomed further Chinese investment.

Given current global challenges, Todd stressed the growing significance of China's series of global initiatives.

He expressed appreciation for China's leadership in improving global governance, saying that Guyana is willing to uphold multilateralism and defend international law and international rules alongside China.

The two sides also exchanged views on jointly building a community with a shared future for China and Latin America and the Caribbean.