Guyana hopes that the Communist Party of China (CPC) will carry on with its innovative and wise ruling policies with Chinese characteristics, to fuel China’s progression and to further shoulder China’s responsibilities as a major global power that champions the causes of developing countries, Guyana’s Ambassador to China Anyin Choo told the Global Times recently, in anticipation of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC.
Choo believes that China’s governance model and development path, under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, can be learned by many developing countries, such as how the Chinese government has shown great innovation in formalizing the concept of a socialist country with Chinese characteristics. The concept has enabled the Chinese government to derive its own governance system and complimentary economic policies, which have worked for the Chinese people based on China’s own unique situation, said Choo.
Many of the policies being applied in China have been put to the test and perfected over time. China has been very innovative and wise in creating its governance and economic systems, which have been responsible for the fast-track economic growth experienced by China, according to the ambassador.
As the country with the largest population in the world, China faces many more challenges than other countries. As a governing political party, the CPC has over the years ensured that all of its internal policies were and continue to be people-centered to build a strong nation; first by solving the very basic needs of its people, and ensuring food security, health care, and job creation, Choo told the Global Times.
Choo applauded the Chinese leader’s vision and efforts in lifting over 100 million people out of poverty, which is a strong foundation for nation-building. “It must be noted that since the implementation of China’s reform and opening-up policies, every successive Chinese leader including President Xi has continued with policy reforms to ensure that not only does China continue to develop and progress, but also does so while hand in hand with the international community to the benefit of all global citizens for a shared future,” said Choo.
“China has achieved a lot in the last decade. Despite its achievements, China has also lived up to its responsibilities as a major power and has championed the causes of many developing countries, making collective voices on global issues to be heard,” the envoy said.
China has also, through various initiatives, provided much-needed technical and financial support for developing countries so that the developmental needs gap in many countries can be bridged in some way, making access to resources easier for several developing countries. This is reflected in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative, among others, she noted.
Choo believes that the CPC has shown exemplary leadership vision as it is able to see the world as one unit. Its diplomatic wisdom has been reflected in many roles played by the Chinese government in the multilateral system and also at the bilateral level. Many China-initiated mechanisms provided many developing countries with partnerships, financing options, and access to much-needed resources to support their developmental needs, enabling developing countries to also develop as part of the global community.
Anyin Choo Photo: Courtesy of Guyana’s Embassy in China
The ambassador appreciated that China extended a helping hand to the developing world and provided much need access and support through the provision of vaccines and personal protective equipment.
Choo highlighted the greatest achievement of the China-Guyana friendship, including people-to-people exchanges and engagements, which have led to mutual understanding and respect and have served as a strong foundation for the expansion and strengthening of bilateral relations.
She was also impressed by how China’s increasing investments in recent years have contributed to the growth in trade, employment, and socio-economic development of Guyana. They have also supported Guyana’s trajectory on fast-track economic growth with unprecedented double-digit growth rates in the last three years against the backdrop of a global pandemic.
According to the data of China Customs, the bilateral trade volume of goods has increased by 213% in the past five years, with an average annual growth rate of more than 42.5%.
Choo said that Guyana has benefitted from several initiatives under the BRI such as the training of professionals in the fields of health, agriculture, and other professional areas, participation in developmental forums and dialogues, cooperation in the economic and technical fields, and there are also several projects in the pipeline to be implemented shortly under the umbrella of the BRI. She said those projects complement Guyana’s fast-track economic growth to provide better access to goods and services.
Choo expects that there are many unexplored avenues for cooperation and the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries such as new and renewable energy, green and climate-resilient infrastructure, agricultural diversification with new technologies, and trading in the global carbon market.
