By now it should be pellucid to even the most Sinophobic Jamaican that we can benefit from a strong relationship with China, if this relationship is handled properly with a view to maximising the benefits to be accrued to Jamaica.

In the absence of skilfulness and strategic thinking, China, like any other country pursing their own best interests, will benefit more than Jamaica.

Historically, Jamaica has had a long and good relationship with China dating back to when the first Chinese migrants came here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The relationship matured in the modern era when Jamaica, in the early 1970s, embraced the “One China Policy” which recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole and rightful Government of China. Jamaica also supported China’s accession to the United Nations and to one of the five permanent seats of the UN Security Council.

During the last 10 years, China-Jamaica ties have moved to a significant level of development financing for Jamaica in which Chinese enterprises are constructing roads, infrastructure and buildings.

However, there is much more that Jamaica can gain from its economic interaction with China, which represents an enormous opportunity for exports — everything from scrap metal to rum. China is also soon to become the second largest source of tourists and is already the second largest source of foreign direct investment.

China is a unique civilisation, culture, economic system and political system, and the country has experienced what a recent book on China and the Caribbean described as “the global re-dimensioning”. China is certainly a superpower, even if it never replaces the United States as the dominant superpower.

A key role in Jamaica further strengthening relations with China has to be played by our embassy in Beijing. To date, Jamaica has had three resident ambassadors, one was entirely new to diplomacy and the other two were career diplomats with no specialised knowledge of China.

The Government has finally corrected this error with the appointment of Mrs Fay Pickersgill. The ambassador-designate is a very suitable appointment because of her long record of performance and experience, particularly in the tourism industry, and her known skills and leadership abilities.

As a Jamaican whose ancestors originated in China she has been very active in the Jamaica-China Friendship Association, leading several trips to China and organising seminars on doing business with that country. She already has high level contacts in China.

Of course, she needs to be supported by a Mandarin-speaking staff. Fortunately, there are numerous Jamaicans who have studied, lived and worked in China and are fluent in the language. The support of the Jamaica Tourist Broad and Jampro will also be critical.

We wish her all the best.