Vice Premier of China Welcomed at Airport
September 19, 2011The Full Story
KINGSTON — Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Hui Liangyu, who is in the island for a three-day working visit was met by officials, led by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, on his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport, today September 19.
Mr. Liangyu, who arrived in the island on Sunday September 18, at the Sangster International Airport, in St. James, stayed overnight in Montego Bay before coming to Kingston.
While here, the Vice Premier will meet with the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet and other senior Government officials.
Two separate agreements for grants valued jointly at RMB 21 Million, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural co-operation will be signed during the visit.
It is expected that this visit will further enhance the friendly partnership for common development between China and Jamaica.
In the meantime, Mr. Montague told JIS News that the MoU on agriculture will focus on training, among other things.
“We intend to expand on training opportunities. There is a component for grant funding and we will be offering the Chinese some of our technical expertise in a number of crops, such as banana and plantain. As time goes on, we will see what other areas of co-operation there can be,” Mr. Montague said.
This is the first Chinese High Level visit to Jamaica since China’s Vice President, His Excellency Xi Jinping came in February 2009.
In March 2008 a team of Chinese officials also visited Jamaica on the invitation of the then Ministry of Water and Housing (now Housing, Environment and Water); in January 2008, Jamaica hosted officials from China’s Ministry of Commerce, and in September 2007, the country hosted China’s Vice Premier.
On the Jamaican side, several official delegations have visited China in the last four years. The most important was the one headed by Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding in February, 2010. This was Mr. Golding’s first Official visit to China.
By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter