The Caribbean’s newest and largest Confucius Institute, which was built

by the People’s Republic of China at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in

St Andrew, was officially handed over to the Jamaican Government on Monday.

The facility, which was constructed at a cost of US$5 million and is

situated at the former Personnel Office on the UWI’s Mona campus, will replace

an existing centre located along Gibraltar Road that was launched in 2009.

It includes classrooms, administrative offices, a library, a lecture

theatre, exhibition area, small conference rooms, patio, tea break area, a

generator room and security facilities.

In acknowledging the long-standing partnership between Jamaica and

China, State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Alando

Terrelonge, who spoke at the handover ceremony, urged Jamaicans not to forget

the bond between both countries

In his remarks, China’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Tian Qi,

said that the new building “is a gift from the Chinese Government and the

people to the Government and the people of Jamaica”.

“I really hope that my colleagues in the Institute and the University

will make full use of this perfect building and to [transform] it into a new

bridge of friendship between the Chinese people and the Jamaican people, and a

new platform of the cultural exchanges between the two countries,” he stated.