Recently, the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) was successfully held, with the theme of ‘Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development’. I noticed that most of the government heads in attendance placed emphasis on the particular significance of strengthening regional unity and building partnerships in the current international political and economic turbulence.

In recent years, China and Caribbean countries have carried out extensive and pragmatic cooperation in trade, education and ecological protection. The outcomes have benefited the peoples of both sides, making it a paradigm of South-South cooperation. As an important member of the global south and a true friend and partner of the Caribbean, China has made outstanding contributions to enhancing the regional cooperation and development.

First, high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation injects strong impetus into regional cooperation and development. China is the region’s second-largest trading partner and the largest trading partner of many countries today. China has signed free trade agreements with five countries and engaged in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with 22 countries in this region, including Jamaica. Based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, pragmatic cooperation with China has been widely praised and trending in the region.

Engaging with China has become a strong common language for countries that pursue expanding friendly, cross-regional cooperation and promoting their own development. During the Caricom meeting quite a few government heads spoke in glowing terms of the high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation with China, and are expected to further strengthen it. In the big family of the Belt and Road Initiative, Caribbean countries support each other and work together, further enhancing regional, social and economic development.

Second, Chinese modernisation brings new opportunities for regional cooperation and development. At the Caricom meeting, many countries paid high attention to China’s achievements in cutting edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence. It reflects a common demand among the region to narrow the digital gap, achieve sustainable development, and effectively respond to global challenges, such as climate change, through deepening cooperation with China.

A Chinese idiom reads, “A single flower does not make spring, whereas 100 flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden.” China is striding forward in the process of promoting the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation. It always holds high the banner of peace, development, and win-win cooperation; pursues an opening-up strategy focusing on mutual benefit; and demonstrates its empowering characteristics everywhere.

Chinese modernisation is for shared development, common security and mutual learning. It will surely benefit more countries of the global south, including Jamaica and other regional countries, by sharing the yields of modernisation, providing more opportunities of coordinated development and empowering them to unite more closely and cope with common challenges, hand in hand.

Last but not least, the vision of building a community of a shared future for mankind provides Chinese wisdom for regional cooperation and development. At the Caricom meeting, many delegates emphasised that confrontation is against the interests of all countries and the demands of people all over the world. They explicitly opposed confrontation in the field of science and technology, and called for unity and cooperation. I totally agree with that.

At present, unilateralism and protectionism undermine the world order and economy. Facing the profound changes unseen in centuries, China has always stood firmly on the right side of history and the progress of human civilisation, and promoted the common value of humanity as well as the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. With the strong support and active participation of countries around the world, including the Caribbean partners, building a community with a shared future for mankind has become a broad international consensus and has been transformed into rich practices, providing a Chinese solution to the common problems mankind is facing.

China is willing to further strengthen exchanges of experience in state governance with Caribbean countries, actively share the fruitful practices and remarkable achievements of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and provide a vivid model with reference value for regional cooperation and development.

As an ancient Chinese poem says, “The mountains are as majestic and green as a gorgeous lotu.” Whenever I stand on the Blue Mountain peak, I can’t help but gasp with admiration at the unparalleled beauty of the Caribbean. The Chinese and Caribbean peoples have always been connected, and the deep affection across time and space is eternal and ever-growing.

“If there is no path ahead, I dare to blaze a trail.” This is a line from China’s latest animated blockbuster
Ne Zha 2. In a world of chaos, China will firmly remain a strong force for empowerment, and continue to adhere to the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, innovation and cooperation. Upholding joint work for this one and only planet, unity and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win principle, China is also going to cooperate with a broad range of global south countries to jointly maintain peace and promote development, and perform the powerful melody of the new era even better.

– Chen Daojiang is the Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica.