PM Describes Meetings with China’s top Business Leaders as Very Productive

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has described her meetings with several of China’s top business leaders as “very productive” as she continues to promote the investment opportunities available on the island.

Mrs. Simpson Miller made the observation while having discussions with President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Xi Jinping and later, Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Zhang Deijang, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on August 22.

Both leaders extended a warm welcome to the Jamaican delegation and commended the country for its long standing support of the One China policy as well as its growing economic and trade co-operation.

President Xi noted that last year Jamaica became China’s top trading partner in the Caribbean, and bilateral trade has nearly tripled since 2009 when he last visited the country.  “This shows that all our hard work has paid off. It also proves that our bilateral business co-operation has room for further co-development,” President Xi said.

He also pointed out that Jamaica and China enjoy an excellent political foundation for co-operation, especially with the country’s support of the One China policy. “China appreciates such commitment,” he said.

President Xi cited Jamaica’s Vision 2030 Development Plan and China’s own 2020 plan, noting that they present big opportunities for deepening strategic co-operation in the future.

In the meantime, Chairman Zhang said that the country attaches great significance to the Jamaican leader’s visit at this time.

During her stay in Beijing, the Prime Minster and her team has held back-to-back meetings with the top bosses of the China Development Bank,  China Communications Construction Company, China Gezhouba Group Company and Complant.

She will also address a private sector business forum organized by the China Council for the Promotion of Trade and Investment (CCPIT), an organization similar to Jamaica’s JAMPRO, on August 23, as well as meet with the head of Sinohydro, a state owned hydropower engineering and construction company.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to tour the Huawei Technologies, a Chinese multi-national networking and telecommunications equipment and service company.