The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Jamaica takes note of recent statement made by U.S. Ambassador Nominee to Jamaica Kari Lake, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing, and would like to offer the following response:

China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have been and will continue to be good friends and good partners for equality, mutual benefit and common development. Openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation are the hallmarks of China-LAC cooperation. On May 13 last year, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum and announced the joint launch by China and LAC partners of five programs for building a community with a shared future. Since then, cooperation between the two sides has made significant progress, with the Solidarity Program enhancing political mutual trust, the Development Program strengthening ties of shared interests, the Civilisation Program promoting exchange and mutual learning, Peace Program upholding common security, and the People-to-People Program benefiting the local community.  Tangible benefits have been delivered for both people. China-LAC cooperation is about the mutual help and support between Global South countries. China always respects the people of LAC countries and commits to equal treatment and mutual benefit. Our cooperation does not target any third party and should not be subject to interference by any third party. 

Over the past 53 years of our diplomatic ties, China-Jamaica relations have set a prime example of equal-footed interaction and mutually beneficial cooperation for win-win results between countries of different sizes. In 2025, the bilateral trade volume between China and Jamaica exceeded US$1.4 billion. Chinese companies have invested over US$2.1 billion in the island, creating more than 40,000 direct jobs, with over 80% of their workforce drawn from Jamaica. China-aid projects, including the Hugh Lawson Shearer Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Western Children’s Hospital, together with the North-South Highway invested in and built by Chinese companies, have become enduring symbols of China-Jamaica friendship. The Confucius Institute at UWI, Mona, has equipped more than 2,000 Jamaicans with Chinese language skills, while over 3,000 Jamaicans have benefited from China-initiated scholarships and exchange programs. 

After Jamaica was hit by Hurricane Melissa, China promptly provided financial assistance and emergency supplies to the island. The deployment of the Chinese Navy hospital ship Ark Silk Road and a Chinese team of medical experts provided humanitarian medical services to more than 7,000 local patients, leaving a lasting mark in the history of bilateral friendship. Through practical cooperation, our two countries have translated our friendship into tangible benefits for our two peoples.

During U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China this May, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. The two presidents had long discussions on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations and world peace and development in a way that was open, thorough, constructive, and strategic. China-U.S. relations concern the well-being of the over 1.7 billion people of both countries, and affect the interests of the over eight billion people of the world; therefore, it is important that both sides follow through on the important understandings reached by the two presidents in Beijing. With a view to building a constructive relationship of strategic stability, China is ready to work with the United States to approach and handle our relations with a broader and longer-term perspective, and seek the right way for major countries to get along in the new era. 

The resources of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) belong to the people there; the path of LAC countries should be chosen by their people, and the choice of friends is a decision for LAC countries alone.  In the face of a changing international landscape and rising uncertainties in the region, China stands ready to work with LAC countries, including Jamaica, to pursue development and prosperity through mutually beneficial cooperation and continue to deliver concrete benefits to the two peoples.