Seizing New Opportunities to Jointly Create a Brilliant Future for China-Jamaica Relations
把握新机遇，共创中牙关系辉煌未来
Ambassador Chen Daojiang Contributes an Article to Jamaica Media
驻牙买加大使陈道江在牙主流媒体发表署名文章
21 November 2022
2022年11月21日
November 21st, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Jamaica. Fifty years ago today, leaders of our two countries made their visionary strategic decision to establish diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica, opening up a new chapter in our countries’ engagements. Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China.
2022年11月21日是中国和牙买加建交50周年纪念日。50年前的今天，两国领导人作出高瞻远瞩的战略决策，中牙正式建立外交关系，揭开了两国交往历史上崭新的一页。牙买加成为第一个同中国建交的英语加勒比国家。
Over the past 50 years, thanks to our leaders’ strategic guidance, China-Jamaica relations have achieved steady and healthy development with constantly deepened political mutual trust, continuously expanded practical cooperation, increasingly intensive people-to-people and cultural exchanges and ever more consolidated friendship between our peoples, delivering tangible benefits to our countries and our peoples.
50年来，在两国领导人的战略引领下，中牙关系始终稳健发展。两国政治互信不断深化，务实合作持续拓展，人文交流更加密切，民间友谊更加巩固，为两国和两国人民带来了实实在在的福祉。
Today, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Jamaican Governor-General, H.E. the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, providing the strategic guidance, pointing out the future direction and setting the goals for China-Jamaica relations in the next 50 years. Congratulatory messages have also been exchanged between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Jamaican Prime Minister the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, and between Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica.
今天，中国国家主席习近平和牙买加总督艾伦就中牙建交50周年互致贺电，为中牙关系开启第二个50年提供了战略指引，指明了前进方向，制定了奋斗目标。中国国务院总理李克强同牙买加总理霍尔尼斯，中共中央政治局委员、中国国务委员兼外长王毅同牙买加外交和外贸部长约翰逊–史密斯也就两国建交50周年互致贺电。
As the Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, I bear the weighty responsibility and proud mission to advance China-Jamaica Strategic Partnership to a new level and deliver more achievements under the strategic guidance of our leaders. It will mark the half-year anniversary since I arrived in Jamaica in a few days. In the past nearly 6 months, I met with Jamaican friends from all walks of life and visited different places on the island, including many sites of our practical cooperation projects. Thus I gained more comprehensive, deeper and more direct understanding and perspectives of China-Jamaica relations.
作为中国驻牙买加大使，我肩负着在两国领导人战略引领下推动中牙关系不断迈上新台阶、创造新辉煌的重任，深感责任重大、使命光荣。再过几天，我也即将迎来到任半年的纪念日。近半年来，通过与牙买加各界人士交流、参访牙买加多个地方、考察多个中牙务实合作项目，我对中牙关系有了更加全面、更加深入、更加直观的了解和体会。
China and Jamaica enjoy deeply rooted relations that represent a fine example. The one-China principle is the political foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with other countries. Jamaica’s firm adherence to the one-China principle lays a solid foundation for China-Jamaica relations. Since I started my tenure, leaders from our countries have exchanged congratulatory messages on the National Day/Independence Day and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Jamaica relations. Leaders of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) respectively sent congratulatory messages to Xi Jinping on his re-election as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. The JLP and the PNP also respectively sent congratulatory messages on the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. The frequent interactions between our leaders and close communication among political parties of our countries have further strengthened our political mutual trust. Jamaica was the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish a strategic partnership with China, and the first Caribbean country to sign a cooperation plan on jointly promoting the Belt and Road cooperation with China. Going forward, as China and Jamaica strive to enhance political mutual trust and strengthen high-level interactions, I believe that we will surely witness more “first things” from China-Jamaica relations.
中牙关系根基牢固，具有很强的示范性。一个中国原则是中国和有关国家建立和发展外交关系的政治基础。牙买加政府始终恪守一个中国原则，打牢了中牙关系的根基。我到任以来，两国领导人就中牙国庆（独立）日、中牙建交50周年等互致贺信，牙买加两党领袖就习近平当选连任中共中央总书记致贺信，两党就中国共产党二十大胜利召开致贺信。两国领导人互动频繁、两国党际交流密切进一步提升了中牙政治互信。牙买加是第一个同中国建立战略伙伴关系的英语加勒比国家，第一个同中国签署共建“一带一路”合作规划的加勒比国家，中牙关系发展始终走在加勒比地区前列。未来，随着两国不断提升政治互信，加强高层交往，我相信，中牙关系必将创造更多“第一”。
China and Jamaica enjoy mutually beneficial relations that hold vast potential. When I visited many Chinese enterprises in Jamaica, I learned that most of their employees are local people and these enterprises have created over 35,000 direct jobs so far. When I travelled on the North-South Highway, I felt for myself the convenience this highway brings to Jamaican people. When I toured the Chinese Garden at the Hope Royal Botanic Gardens, I was mesmerized by the unique appeal that this garden holds to Jamaican people. When I went to the new headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, I saw with my own eyes the tangible benefits this building brings to the Jamaican diplomats. When I inspected the project of the Western Children’s Hospital, I was deeply touched by Jamaican people’s dearest wish for the early operation of this hospital in order for their children to enjoy high-quality medical conditions. When I toured the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP), I was deeply impressed by Jamaican people’s simplest hope for the early operation of this highway in order for them to travel faster between the East and the West of the island. After I tasted the fresh lobster that I bought at the Portmore Fishing Village and enjoyed the aromatic Blue Mountain coffee and Appleton rum, I could understand why the Chinese people love Jamaican products and why there is vast potential in the Jamaican exports to China. Going forward, as China and Jamaica continuously deepen the practical cooperation, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and actively implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI), I believe that China-Jamaica relations will surely bring more benefits to our peoples.
中牙关系互利互惠，具有巨大的潜力。当我走访在牙中资企业时，我了解到他们的员工大部分是牙当地民众，他们为牙创造了超3.5万个直接就业岗位。当我驰骋在南北高速公路上时，我体会到这条高速给牙民众带来的便利。当我游览于希望公园中国园时，我感受到这座园林给牙民众带来的享受。当我走访牙外交和外贸部大楼时，我感受到这栋大楼给牙外交官带来的益处。当我考察西部儿童医院项目时，我了解到牙民众有多渴望这个医院早日投入使用，让他们的孩子享受优质的医疗条件。当我考察南部沿海路项目时，我了解到牙民众有多渴望这条道路早日通车，减少他们往返东西部的通行时间。我吃过波特莫尔小渔村的新鲜龙虾，品尝过香浓的蓝山咖啡和醇厚的朗姆酒，感受到中国民众对牙产品的喜爱以及牙产品对华出口的巨大潜力。未来，随着两国不断深化务实合作，持续推进高质量共建“一带一路”，积极落实全球发展倡议，我相信中牙关系必将为两国人民带来更多福祉。
China and Jamaica enjoy long-standing friendly relations that have broad prospects. Despite the vast geographical distances between our two countries, our peoples’ friendly interactions go back a long way. Since the earliest arrival of Chinese people in Jamaica in 1854, they have been actively engaged in Jamaica’s social life and brought China into Jamaican people’s horizon, laying solid groundwork for our peoples’ enduring friendship. When I attended the Presentation Ceremony for the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship in Northern Caribbean University, I was impressed by the vitality emanated from our countries’ education cooperation. When I learned that more and more Jamaicans joined China’s short-term training sessions, I was delighted at the broad prospect of our countries’ cooperation on human resource development. When students from the Confucius Institute at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies sang Chinese songs at the Reception in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica, I saw the positive outcomes in our countries’ cultural exchanges. Going forward, as China and Jamaica will further strengthen their people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation on education, culture, health, sports and tourism, I believe that China-Jamaica relations will surely develop under the auspices of our peoples.
中牙关系传统友好，具有广阔的空间。中牙虽远隔重洋，但两国人民友好交往源远流长。自1854年首批华人抵牙以来，华人积极融入牙社会，增进了牙民众对中国的了解，为中牙人民传统友好奠定了坚实基础。当我赴北加勒比大学出席中国大使奖学金颁奖仪式时，我感受到中牙教育合作的勃勃生机。当我得知一批批牙民众参加中国提供的短期培训时，我感受到中牙人力资源开发合作的广阔空间。当西印度大学孔子学院学生在庆祝中牙建交50周年招待会上用娴熟的普通话唱完中文歌曲时，我感受到中牙文化交流取得的积极成果。未来，随着两国进一步密切人文交流，加强在教育、文化、卫生、体育、旅游等领域合作，我相信，中牙关系必将拥有稳固的民意基础。
Last month witnessed the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. The Congress laid out the goals, tasks and guiding policies for the development cause of the CPC and China in the next five years and beyond. China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development, stay committed to deepening reform and opening-up, and stay committed to promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. Along the track of modernization, China will surely deliver more opportunities, create more dynamism and contribute more wisdom and solutions for Jamaica and beyond.
上个月，中国共产党二十大胜利召开。大会谋划了中国未来5年乃至更长时期中国共产党和中国国家事业发展的目标任务和大政方针。中国将坚定不移走和平发展道路，坚定不移深化改革、扩大开放，坚定不移以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。一个不断走向现代化的中国，必将为牙买加乃至全世界提供更多的机遇和活力，贡献更多的智慧和方案。
Since President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), China has worked closely with the international community, rolled out 32 major concrete measures, and achieved important early gains, with the project pool expanding and cooperative platforms increasing. The GDI is highly synergistic with Jamaica’s development strategies and goals. China hopes that Jamaica will join the Group of Friends of the GDI at an early date, so that the GDI will grow in depth and substance in Jamaica and help our countries achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
习近平主席提出全球发展倡议以来，中国积极团结国际社会，脚踏实地推进32项重要举措，取得重要早期收获。全球发展项目库不断扩容，合作平台不断增加。全球发展倡议同牙买加发展战略和目标高度契合，中国欢迎牙买加尽早加入“全球发展倡议之友小组”，推动全球发展倡议在牙走深走实，共同实现2030年可持续发展议程。
China and Jamaica have jointly embarked on a new journey and are facing great historic opportunities in developing the bilateral relations. As our leaders have provided strategic guidance for the future development of China-Jamaica relations, I look forward to closely working with all Jamaican friends from different sectors to further advance China-Jamaica Strategic Partnership from the new starting point of the Golden Jubilee of our countries’ diplomatic relations. Let’s pool our efforts to enhance our people’s sense of gains and happiness, create an even more brilliant future for China-Jamaica relations in another 50 years, and go hand in hand to build a community with a shared future for mankind!
在中牙共同迈上新征程、中牙关系发展面临新的巨大历史机遇之际，在两国领导人为中牙关系未来发展提供战略指引之际，我期待同牙各界人士一道，以庆祝中牙建交50周年为新起点，齐心协力、同舟共济，推动中牙战略伙伴关系不断迈上新台阶，全力提升两国人民的获得感、幸福感，为中牙关系第二个50年开创辉煌未来，携手构建人类命运共同体！