Vice President Qinghong Welcomes Proposal for Caribbean Centre in China

His Excellency Zeng Qinghong, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, has said that his government was open to discussions towards the establishment of a centre for Caribbean language, culture, science and technology in China.
The Chinese Vice President was responding to a proposal made by the Vice Chancellor of the University of West Indies (UWI), Professor E. Nigel Harris, for the establishment of a Chinese centre for language, culture, science and technology at the UWI and a similar centre for Caribbean studies in China, when he toured the institution on February 3.
Vice President Qingong, said his government would “adopt a positive approach to the university’s proposal”. He noted further that, “I hope to see strengthened ties between the institutions of higher learning here and in China.”
He also lauded the UWI officials for establishing a Chinese language laboratory on the campus. For his part, Professor Harris said that the establishment of the centres would lead to “an even greater understanding between the peoples of the Caribbean and China” and the region would be able to study the contribution of the Chinese people to the Caribbean over the last 150 years.
The Vice President, who was in the island for the inaugural China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and Fair paid a short visit to the UWI and the Bob Marley Museum before departing later in the day. During his tour of the Bob Marley Museum, Vice President Qinghong expressed delight at being able to view the work of the legendary reggae artiste, who has contributed much to Jamaica and the world at large.