It was a coincidence, of course. But at a time when Barbados was celebrating the golden jubilee of its Independence from Britain with a social function in Beijing, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, was striking a compelling note about his country’s future plans.
“China will not shut the door to the outside world, but will open more,” was the way President XI Jinping put it in November. His words of wisdom were articulated against a backdrop of projections for a 6.5 per cent spurt in China’s gross domestic product; a rising tide of Chinese students going abroad to improve their education, said to amount to more than five million making plans for the 20th anniversary of China’s take-over of Hong Kong from Britain to be celebrated next year; and preparing for the 19th Communist Party Congress late in 2017.
But with United States President-elect Donald J Trump hinting that Washington may review its “one-China policy” after he takes office in January, the road to Beijing can become a bit bumpy.
Xi Jinping’s policy thrust was aimed at billions of Chinese as well as at governments in countries and regions wherever China has a growing strategic presence. And that would include Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana and their Eastern Caribbean neighbours.
It’s highly unlikely that Xi Jinping’s words would have gone unnoticed by the large foreign diplomatic and consular corps in Beijing and other major cities in one of the world’s most powerful and well connected nations.
Interestingly, in an address at a function in China’s capital that marked Barbados’ 50th anniversary of Independence, Dr Chelston Brathwaite, Barbados’ top diplomat said his birthplace and China were strengthening their ties. And they were doing so through a range of initiatives from a forging of “greater cooperation” in their financial markets; the proposed building of jet bridges and a new control tower at Grantley Adams International Airport; and the rehabilitation of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex to the establishment of a Foods Security Centre.
There is also the provision of scholarships to Bajan students; a US$170 million loan from the China Exim Bank; and expanded opportunities for Barbadians to become more aware of the Chinese language and culture. These are in addition to greater cooperation in culture, sports and legal affairs, plus a boost in cooperation in education, science and technology.
There is the pact between the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and the Global Institute of Software Technology in Suzhou to train software engineers in Barbados and China.
“We believe that these activities point to a strengthening of the relationship between Barbados and China and provide a platform for building a comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual cooperation and trust between Barbados and China,” Brathwaite said.
What’s clear is that projects of significance to the social and economic development of Barbados are in line with China’s outreach across the Western Hemisphere and other regions of the world.
Brathwaite told the diplomatic corps, Bajans, Chinese, business executives, and other guests the “relationship” between China and its partners was “strengthened” in 2013 when Xi Jinping went to the Caribbean and met with region’s leaders in Trinidad and Tobago. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was among them.
Last March, Chinese Vice-Minister Wang Chao visited Barbados and co-chaired the sixth round of consultations on cooperation between the Caribbean and China.
“These activities and visits confirm the view in Barbados and China that China is an important and strategic partner that can assist Barbados in finding new economic opportunities that support the social and economic development of our country,” added the ambassador.
The China Exim Bank would finance the renovations of Sam Lord’s Castle in St Philip and it is being seen as an example of the new possibilities being opened through the relationship.
When Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell visited Beijing recently, he discussed how the People’s Bank of China can work with the Barbados institution.
The initiatives and close relationship can be traced to Barbados’ decision in 1977 to establish diplomatic relations with China, a move by the Tom Adams Administration that flowed from the adoption of a “one China policy” that has anchored the links between the two countries ever since, even after changes in government in 1986, 1994 and 2008.
Some key steps were taken. A bilateral Investment treaty was signed in 1998 and a double taxation agreement reached in 2000 that have helped to spur business expansion. At the same time, the island’s reputation of social and economic and political stability, plus a strict adherence to the rule of law and a commitment to parliamentary democracy that dates back to the 17th century combined to heighten the island’s attractiveness to investors and others in the financial services industry.
“This country’s commitment to transparency, information exchange and the enactment of anti-money laundering legislation places it among the most important and reputable financial centres in the world,” asserted Brathwaite.
Add the country’s highly favourable rating in Transparency International’s global index that measures the level of international corruption to the World Economic Forum’s ranking which placed Barbados near the top of the list of Western Hemisphere’s countries with stable banking systems and the mix would explain the country’s appeal as a business centre.
Clearly, should the incoming Trump administration act unwisely by changing its “one China policy” which has worked well for the US economy, Barbados would have little reason to fear any negative fallout when it stands firm on its one-China strategy.
That’s because its position on China is based on a clear principle that was outlined in 1966 by then Prime Minister Errol Barrow when the then newly independent state joined the United Nations: “Friends of all and satellites of none.”
