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Remarks by Tian Qi, Ambassador of The People’s Republic of China to Jamaica

As a developing country, China has always upheld the spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism. 

Under the framework of South-South cooperation, China has provided assistance to over 160 countries and international organizations without any political conditions for the past 70 years, working towards a brighter shared future for all through international development cooperation.

In 2013, President Xi Jinping implemented the monumental Belt and Road Initiative, promoting a sense of community, a shared future for humankind. 

It aimed to uphold justice while pursuing shared interests: the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith, the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. 

Thus, began a series of foreign cooperation measures, including the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 

These operations shared Chinese wisdom and solutions to issues of global development, whilst promoting the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

COVID-19 response

As the largest developing country, China has always actively engaged in international humanitarian affairs and responded to concerns of the international community in a timely manner. It swiftly and readily lends a helping hand in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and public health emergencies such as Ebola, Zika, COVID-19, and refugee crises across the globe. 

The aid provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the most intensive and extensive emergency humanitarian operation China has undertaken since its foundation. Additionally, it proposed recommendations and measures on the global fight against COVID-19, including its decision to make the highly sought vaccine, once available, a global public good. 

Further strengthening international coordination was the China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19, complemented by a high-level virtual conference for international cooperation in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

With Chinese-made vaccines now on the market, the Government has started fulfilling its promise. To date, it has provided vaccine assistance to 80 countries and 3 international organizations. COVID-19 has no borders. China firmly believes that politicizing and stigmatizing this public health emergency leads to nowhere. 

To build a better future for all, the international community must take responsibility, respect science, replace differences with unity, and dispel prejudice with reason. The fight against COVID-19 is our collective responsibility.  

Global health development

In times of public health emergency, the second largest global economy has been committed to relieving struggling countries through building hospitals, medical centres, malaria prevention and treatment centres, as well as providing medical supplies and life-saving treatments. 

To date, China has sent medical teams comprised of over 20,000 health professionals to over 70 countries, providing diagnoses and treatment for nearly 300 million patients.

In addition, measures such as “Brightness Journey”, “Love Journey”, and “Smile Journey” have particularly focused on diagnosing and treating patients suffering from eye diseases, congenital heart diseases, and other health complications.

Improving education

China holds universal education to the utmost importance. To improve local teaching environments of developing countries, China has contributed to the construction and renovation of primary and middle schools, universities, libraries, and other educational institutions. 

To readily equip these education providers, China has offered a wide range of essential resources, including computers, cultural and educational supplies, network building platforms, and virtual learning programs, particularly in universities. 

Scholarships funded by the Chinese Government have enabled students in financial hardship to complete their tertiary education, granting invaluable support to the respective student and their local community. 

Enhancing capacity building

Upholding the philosophy of an ancient proverb, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime”, China’s own experiences of development have garnered a wide range of practical skills that are universally valuable to other developing countries, offering encouragement to follow suit. 

In the past 70 years, over 13,000 training programs have been held by the Chinese government in more than 160 countries, international, and regional organizations. 

These programs have a wide range of ambitions, from providing academic diplomas and dispatching senior experts, to providing volunteer services. Over 400,000 learners of various vocations have enhanced their skills through the training courses, now recognized by the governments and professionals of numerous developing countries.

Ultimately, the country strives to nurture both the well-being of Chinese citizens and the progress of humanity. In addition to enhancing the development of health and education, it proactively pays attention to strengthening infrastructure, providing technology, equipment, materials, and human resources for improved roads, bridges, railways, ports, power stations, and communication facilities. 

In rural areas, China has sent experts to deliver technical agricultural services to local farms, introduce agricultural technology demonstration centres, and improve irrigation and water conservation projects. More importantly, in coherence with the concept of green development, the country recognizes its leading responsibility in implementing ecological protection and curtailing climate change. 

Through developing climate-friendly technology such as photovoltaic power generation, wind power, and hydropower, China has actively gravitated towards clean energy projects. These measures of green development have contributed towards desertification prevention and control, environmental protection of marine, forest, and water resources, and wildlife conservation of native flora and fauna.

Whilst Chinese foreign aid is predominantly executed through bilateral channels, multilateral assistance through international organizations is equally as significant. 

In recent years, cooperation with international organizations like the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have widened China’s multilateral charity. These contributions have been fulfilled in more than 40 countries, changing the lives of over 20 million citizens.