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Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Tian Qi and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness Attend the Official Opening of the New Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

(From Chinese Embassy in Jamaica)

2022-01-20 06:43

On 19th January 2022, H.E. Mr. Tian Qi, Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica and the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica attended and addressed the official opening of the new Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica. The Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), Mr. Mark Golding, Leader of the Opposition, The Most Hon. Mrs. Hugh Shearer, The Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, The Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate, The Hon. Leslie Campbell, State Minister in the MFAFT, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, Cabinet Secretary and Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith, Permanent Secretary of the MFAFT were present at the ceremony. H.E. Mr. Michael Lodge, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority and Excellencies, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and relevant international organizations in Jamaica as well as representatives of Jamaican Public Ministries, Agencies and Diplomatic Missions also virtually attended the event.

Ambassador Tian warmly congratulated the official opening of the new Headquarters of the MFAFT, a new landmark of Kingston and a new symbol of China-Jamaica friendship, and congratulated the MFAFT on its 60 years of glorious and brilliant diplomatic achievements. Ambassador Tian said that 2022 is a new year and new journey for the MFAFT. Working in such a new office with beautiful sea and mountain view, the staffs of the MFAFT will definitely stand higher and see further to better safeguard and promote Jamaica’s national interests and the common interests of all developing countries. 2022 is a new year and new journey for the whole Jamaica. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, a special milestone. Last year, the Government of Jamaica invested nearly $900 billion to upgrade infrastructure, enhance employment and promote post-COVID recovery, and the economic growth expectation is about 8%, which will pave a smooth path for socioeconomic development and greater prosperity in future years.

Ambassador Tian emphasized that 2022 is also a new year and new journey for China-Jamaica Strategic Partnership as it marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative for more robust, greener and more balanced global development so as to foster a global community of development with a shared future. The Initiative lists poverty alleviation, food security, financing for development, green development, digital economy and connectivity as priorities, and is highly compatible and synergetic with Jamaica’s national development strategy. A series of celebration events and cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields will be carried out this year. China and Jamaica have embarked on the brighter road to common prosperity.

Ambassador Tian also warmly congratulated and welcomed the biggest delegation ever since in Jamaica’s history of Winter Olympics that Jamaica will send to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, wishing Jamaican athletes make history again in Beijing since 2008.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, on behalf of Jamaican government and people, expressed the deepest and heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of China, saying that the China-aid new Headquarters of the MFAFT is one of the tangible benefits brought by Jamaica-China mutually beneficial cooperation and will enable the MFAFT to better serve Jamaica and its people. China is Jamaica’s long-standing and reliable friend and partner and Jamaica is grateful for the great and precious support provided by China to Jamaica’s development. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Jamaica-China diplomatic relations. Jamaica will work with China to carry out relevant celebration activities to deepen the Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness spoke highly of the work done by the MFAFT and said that the prioritized issues for Jamaica’s diplomacy in the future will be foreign economic and trade cooperation, financing for development, combating climate change, digital transformation and technological innovation, and green and blue economy. Jamaica will continue making voice at international arena and gain more international support so as to promote Jamaica’s economic and social development. Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the new Headquarters of the MFAFT will be named The Hugh Lawson Shearer Building (Hugh Lawson Shearer was Jamaica’s third Prime Minister and acted as the Minister of the MFAFT for a long time).

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