We greatly appreciate the gesture, which will contribute to our work in support of the States of the region, the executive director of the recipient agency, Dr. Joy St. John, said.

The contribution to strengthening capacity in the area of public health will increase resilience in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Alison Drayton, assistant secretary general for Human and Social Development at the CARICOM secretariat, noted.

In late April this year, at a meeting of Foreign Ministers between China and Caribbean countries, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated his government’s support for CARICOM.

Now more than ever China and the Caribbean nations need to strengthen solidarity, overcome difficulties together, deepen cooperation and create a better future, he stressed.

Ties between China and the Caribbean countries have a long history, but diplomatic relations were established 50 years ago, strengthened after President Xi Jinping’s tour of the region in 2013.

Since then, the comprehensive cooperation partnership has deepened continuously, particularly with ten CARICOM Member States, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Montserrat.

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