Minister of State in Foreign Trade and Business, Sandra Husbands in discussion with China’s Economic and Commercial Counsellor to Barbados, Liang Jie, during a meeting on Wednesday. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Barbados and China have discussed ways to enhance their bilateral relations.
Minister of State in Foreign Trade and Business, Sandra Husbands, in a meeting held on Wednesday with the People’s Republic of China’s Economic and Commercial Counsellor to Barbados, Liang Jie, talked about the existing relationship regarding the trading of goods and services, and how it could be improved.
Minister Husbands noted that China is one of Barbados’ major trading partners and appreciates the relationship which started on May 30, 1977.
She said this relationship involved both technical and financial assistance with education, culture, sports, and infrastructure, including the Wildey Gymnasium, the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Cheapside Market, Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project and the National Stadium Redevelopment Project.
Ms. Husbands also expressed appreciation for the assistance received throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Hunan Province donation of a sugarcane harvester and the planned greenhouses initiative, which she noted would assist with the country’s food security efforts.
Counsellor Liang Jie shared that his country is keen on further developing the existing bilateral and trade relations, and in his role would seek to connect Barbados with the requisite personnel and business chambers to enhance the trading of goods and services.
The two officials also discussed biodiversity; agriculture projects; training; multi-destination tourism; climate change; language courses; and re-engaging on the cultural front post-COVID-19 in art and craft, film and cultural exchanges, and the China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai from Friday, November 5, to Friday, November 10.
Also present at the meeting were Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Joy-Ann Skinner; Senior Foreign Service Officer, Trecia King; Foreign Service Officer II, Asha Pitt, and China’s Embassy Attaché, Xinyue Da.
