NASSAU, Bahamas, (CMC) — The Bahamas government Friday said its relationship with China is “rooted in cooperation, development and shared values” as the two countries signed a framework agreement for the construction of a new specialty hospital in western New Providence.

“This is a significant occasion, not simply because of what it sets in motion, but because of what it represents, the continued friendship and mutual respect between our two nations,” Prime Minister Phillip Davis said at the signing ceremony for the project estimated at nearly US$300 million.

He said that over the years, Nassau and Beijing have forged a strong relationship “rooted in cooperation, development, and shared values” and that relationship has taken many forms including investment in infrastructure, support for education, cultural exchanges, and longstanding diplomatic engagement.

“Each collaboration has been grounded in a commitment to strengthen the ties between our peoples and improve the conditions in which our citizens live and thrive,” he said.

The new facility will have a neonatal intensive care unit and will offer same-day surgeries and minor procedures; diagnostic and interventional imaging services; support of molecular medicine services; headquarters for new technologies research and medicine oversight; teaching hospital services; a blood bank and laboratory services, and a national reference morgue and pathology services.

It is being funded through a concessional 20-year loan from China Export-Import Bank, and the construction is expected to take between 30 and 36 months.

Davis told the ceremony that while his Caribbean Community (Caricom) country is a “small island nation… we have always maintained that the size of a country does not determine the value of its voice or the worth of its aspirations”.

“In China, we have found a partner that recognises this. A partner that has listened, understood, and acted in good faith, consistently,” Davis said, adding “today, we take another step forward in that relationship”.

He said that the agreement formalises support that will assist the country in one of the most important areas of national development, namely healthcare, and that it reflects a shared understanding that access to healthcare is fundamental “not a luxury, not a privilege, but a basic right of every person who calls this country home.

“For too long, Bahamians have had to contend with the same painful realities: long waiting times, overburdened clinics, outdated facilities, and limited access in our Family Islands.

“Too many people have felt like the system was out of reach or working against them. And for our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, the conditions have often made an already difficult job even more challenging. We cannot accept that as the standard. We will not accept that,” he said.

Prime Minister Davis said that “with our Chinese partners, we are creating new opportunities to deliver on that promise.

“This cooperation will help us build infrastructure that is fit for purpose, and designed with the needs of our population in mind. It also allows us to continue strengthening ties with a nation that has consistently offered support grounded in mutual benefit,” he added.