Days after United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish urged regional partners like The Bahamas to “resist” the “malign” influence of China, Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas Yan Jiarong yesterday defended China’s record in The Bahamas and the region, and insisted there are no strings attached to its “partnerships” in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“China does not engage in exclusive small circles, geopolitical competition and bloc confrontation,” Ambassador Yan said.
“China does not request other countries to take sides. China welcomes all other friendly countries to invest more in The Bahamas and carry out more projects to the benefit of the Bahamian people.
“Other countries should take China’s partnerships with The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Latin America countries in a more open and inclusive way. After all, the world has ample space for all nations to thrive together.”
She said, “Both China and The Bahamas are independent and sovereign countries. Both have the right to choose with whom to make friends and what development path the country should pursue.”
The ambassador said other countries should respect such choices and rights.
“China’s cooperation with The Bahamas respects Bahamian sovereignty, imposing no political conditions, and targeting no third parties,” she said.
“It has garnered widespread appreciation from both the Bahamian government and the people.”
She adopted the words of a Nassau Guardian editorial on Tuesday which stated there is nothing wrong with The Bahamas and its Caribbean neighbors continuing to develop close ties with China — just as the United States has done.
The ambassador pointed out that trade between the US and China amounts to more than $680 billion, and more than 70,000 US companies have invested in China.
The ambassador’s statement was sent after The Nassau Guardian requested a response to the comments made by Furnish, who told attendees at Grand Bahama Business Outlook last week China makes big promises but “delivers little”.
On Monday, The Nassau Guardian also reported the contents of a letter written by several members of the US Congress to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging that a high-level delegation be sent to the 48th Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), citing the importance of the region for security and economic purposes and the need to prevent “coercion” by China.
Rejecting such claims that China has a nefarious presence in The Bahamas and the wider region, and accusations that it delivers little, the ambassador said to the contrary, China is a doer.
She pointed to significant investments and contributions China has made in The Bahamas over the years.
“Cooperation between China and The Bahamas is based on the needs of The Bahamas. The cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the local people and improved the well-being of the Bahamian [people],” she said.
“Facts speak louder than words. China and The Bahamas have continued to enhance practical cooperation in recent years. The Thomas Robinson National Stadium is a gift from the Chinese people to the people of The Bahamas and the Chinese company is now carrying out maintenance and renovation work.
“The concessional loans provided by China supported the construction of the Nassau Airport Gateway as well as the port of North Abaco.
“Chinese enterprises invested in the construction of Baha Mar, and the Pointe and British Colonial in downtown Nassau.”
She also pointed to other projects in The Bahamas that became a reality through Chinese investments, and highlighted extensive Chinese investments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“China and LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) countries are natural partners. Win-win cooperation is the hallmark of China’s relations with LAC countries,” Ambassador Yan said.
“Both China and LAC countries are from the Global South, standing at a crucial stage of development.
“Born and rooted in the Global South, China shares strong emotional bonds and broad common interests with LAC countries. With many similar positions and a lot to offer each other, we are natural partners.
“Since 2012, China has been the second largest trading partner of Latin America. In 2024, the trade volume between China and Latin America exceeded US$500 billion, a year-on-year increase of six percent.
“By the end of 2023, China’s direct investment stock in Latin America and Caribbean amounted to US$600.8 billion, making Latin America and the Caribbean the second largest destination for China’s overseas investment.”
The ambassador said, “China’s practical cooperation with the region comes with no strings attached, targets no third party, aligns with local needs, and ensures mutual benefits, delivering tangible gains and well-being to the local people.”
For the full text of the ambassador’s statement, see today’s editorial page, A4, or the opinion section at www.thenassauguardian.com.
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Publish date : 2025-02-19 23:44:00
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