EDITORIAL - Forty years of fruitful relations

WHEN in May 1977 Barbados took the giant step in establishing diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, it was a bold decision bearing in mind that several states making up the international community were still coming around to the idea of embracing this country.

China had been admitted to membership of the United Nations in 1971 after that body opted to oust Taiwan, now considered a colony of China. Since then the global community has been doing business with China, although a handful of states including three or four in the Caribbean have maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Before establishing ties with China, Barbados severed relations with Taiwan in keeping with the moves which other countries were doing (that is, exchanging ties with China while cutting relations with Taiwan).

Since May 1977 relations between Barbados and China have mushroomed and today both countries can attest to that fact.All of this will be borne out this evening at a reception marking 40 years of diplomatic ties. The reception will be held at the Hilton, Barbados. This will be followed tomorrow by a concert to bring an end to the celebrations.

Over the course of the 40 years, Barbados has benefited in several ways from its relationship with China. But it needs to do more and to even quicken the pace in securing more gains from that country, given that Barbados is a very small developing state existing in a hostile international environment.

There are a number of projects in Barbados built by the Chinese. They constructed the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium; expanded the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre; refurbished the old Queen’s College which now houses the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; and rebuilt the Cheapside Market.

The Chinese are also financing and refurbishing the Sam Lord’s Castle, and they have provided scholarships and technical assistance in agriculture and other areas.

And while Barbados has benefited and continues to do so from these projects, the area of trade has become somewhat of a concern. It is recognised that because of the vast differences in development, trade between the two countries is heavily stacked in favour of the Chinese.

This is a common theme between industrialised countries and small developing states. Statistics will show that China exports goods and services totalling approximately US$19 million to Barbados; while importing just over $200 000 worth of goods from Barbados. To improve its level of exports Barbados has been targeting services and principally tourism. Just last week, this island’s tourism officials said they wanted this country to become the number two market in the Caribbean for long- stay visitors from China. Right now the number one market for Chinese visitors to the Caribbean is Cuba, which continues to develop as a major player in the region’s tourism industry.

However, it should also be pointed out that China is a non-borrowing member of the Barbados-based Caribbean development Bank (CDB). As such, Chinese funds injected into the CDB do go to assist countries, including Barbados and others with whom it has diplomatic relations.

For Barbados, it will also want to see more investments originating out of China to take advantage of their double taxation agreement and to build on the foundation which was laid over the last 40 years.