Antigua and Barbuda is an important partner of China in the Caribbean. Since 2023, exchanges and cooperation between China and Angola in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and people-to-people have been carried out smoothly, and investment cooperation has been deepened. Customs data shows that in 2023, the amount of Zhong'an ** will reach 121.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 75%. Among them, China's imports from Antigua and Barbuda increased by more than 4 times, and the export value to Angua was 117.2 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7114%。Recently, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Juston Brown, visited China to further deepen the friendship between the two countries and promote the development of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in a wider field and at a higher level.
Jiang Shixue, a distinguished professor at Shanghai University and director of the Center for Latin American Studies, said in an interview with a reporter from China ** Daily that Antigua and Barbuda has a small land area, a small population, and a relatively single economic structure. In the first field, it is mainly China's exports to Anglia, the scale of which exceeds 90% of the total. In the field of investment, China has assisted Antigua and Barbuda in building some infrastructure that is crucial to the long-term development of Antigua and Barbuda through various forms such as interest-free loans, concessional loans and grants, including the terminal project of Antigua International Airport and a number of community center projects. In 2018, China signed a memorandum of understanding with Antigua and Barbuda, making Antigua and Barbuda the first country in the Eastern Caribbean to join the "Belt and Road" circle of friends, which provides a broader horizon for bilateral cooperation.
The reconstruction and expansion project of St. John's deep-water port is a landmark cooperation project between China and Angola under the framework of the "Belt and Road". In 2022, the Port of St. John's was expanded to become the largest mixed passenger and cargo terminal in the Eastern Caribbean. Li Jian, general manager of the Caribbean branch of China Earth Group, said that after the reconstruction and expansion of St. John's Port, the port's transportation capacity and efficiency have been greatly improved. Before the reconstruction and expansion, the port could only dock one 10,000-ton cargo ship at a time, but after the reconstruction and expansion, it can dock two 10,000-ton cargo ships at the same time, with an annual throughput of 550,000 tons. The St. John's Port Reconstruction and Expansion Project has greatly improved the flow of goods in the Caribbean, brought tangible benefits to the local people, and provided a platform for the development of Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean region. During the construction period, the project recruited local employees extensively to provide training on construction safety and work skills to promote local employment.
China is a big shipping country, and we hope to expand cooperation in the shipping industry and attract relevant investment from China" "China's electric vehicles are very competitive in terms of ** and quality, and can expand exports to Antigua and Barbuda"......At the China-Antigua and Barbuda** Investment Cooperation Forum hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) a few days ago, Juston Brown listed more than 10 economic, trade and investment opportunities for China in transportation, agriculture, education, and medical care. He said that with obvious geographical advantages, advanced port facilities and preferential tax policies, Antigua and Barbuda has broad development space and potential in industries such as electric vehicles, food, education, and medical care.
Relevant experts said that the investment environment in Antigua and Barbuda has four major advantages. The first is political stability. The frequency of adjustment of relevant investment policies and laws and regulations is not high, the system is relatively sound, and the investment environment is relatively stable. Second, the financial environment is good. Antigua and Barbuda is a country with relatively fast economic growth in the Eastern Caribbean, and its development prospects are bright. Third, the infrastructure is relatively perfect, and the power and communication industries have a relatively good foundation. Fourth, it is strategically located, radiating North and South America.
Jiang Shixue said that Antigua and Barbuda tourism is very developed, and the beaches are beautiful, and in addition to investment, Chinese tourists can also go to Antigua and Barbuda for a leisurely vacation and experience the island style. The reporter learned that Antigua and Barbuda tourism products are numerous, known for beaches, international rowing competitions and carnivals, which attract a large number of tourists every year, and Antibula and Barbuda implement visa-free treatment for Chinese citizens.
In addition, Chinese Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Zhang Yanling, said that the "Chinese fever" in Antigua and Barbuda continues to heat up, and Antigua and Barbuda are currently considering promoting Chinese courses in all public secondary schools. China** also provides scholarships for young people in Antigua and Barbuda to provide them with opportunities to study in China. "This year, we have also set up a 'Chinese bookshelf' at the Antigua and Barbuda National Library to provide a new platform for the people of Antigua and Barbuda to better understand China. Zhang Yanling said.
Jiang Shixue told reporters that China and Barbuda can strengthen cooperation in many fields in the future: First, due to the relatively simple economic structure of Antigua and Barbuda, its industrial manufactured products and daily necessities need to be imported from abroad, and China can export more products to it; Second, the development of tourism in Antigua and Barbuda also needs to continuously improve the level of infrastructure, and Chinese enterprises can increase investment to help them improve the implementation of supporting infrastructure; Third, the two sides can strengthen cooperation in the field of new energy, as Antigua and Barbuda is an island country in the Caribbean region with abundant marine resources around it, while China's marine power generation technology is very mature; Fourth, China and Anko have strengthened cooperation in global governance, and China, Antigua and Barbuda, and even Caribbean countries attach great importance to addressing climate change, and the Caribbean region is mostly small island states and coastal lowland countries, which are generally facing serious threats from climate warming and sea level rise.
*: China ** News Author: Zhou Dongyang.