PM Kamla will consider invitation for official visit to China

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar greets Chinese Ambassador Yang Youming

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will “give very favourable consideration” to an invitation to pay a state visit to China. 

Chinese Ambassador Yang Youming extended the invitation on Monday during a reception at the Diplomatic Centre hosted by Persad-Bissessar to mark the start of the Chinese new year of the Dragon.

The leaders of the seven Chinese associations attended the reception.

In a brief address the Chinese diplomat noted the increasing trade between China and T&T totalling TT $2.5 billion in 2011. Yang said there is growing interest in building closer ties.

He added that the Chinese vice premier, who visited T&T recently, was very satisfied with his visit. he said further that the business communities of each state are exploring opportunities in tourism, oil and gas and asphalt. 

The year of the Dragon represents good luck and strength. Yang said his country hopes the year will see growing relations with Trinidad & Tobago

“It is our sincere hope the Prime Minister will be able to lead a delegation on an official visit to China,” he said. 

The Prime Minister responded by saying she would consider the invitation favourably. “We have visited Brazil, we have visited India and yes we see China is next, so we will favourably consider your kind invitation,” she told the ambassador. 

Persad-Bissessar said her government cannot take T&T forward “if we continue to sit at home and wait for people to come to us. We need to go out there and market and brand T&T."

Yang said the Chinese Government would provide a preferential loan for the construction of a children’s hospital in T&T. And he added that a $40 million Chinese grant to T&T would also be used to promote bilateral trade. 

Trinidad & Tobago's plan to open an embassy in Beijing would promote cultural exchanges, Yang said, adding that China is examining the possibility of opening a Confucius centre in T&T. 

The Prime Minister said her government would use part of the $40 million grant would be used to assist every community.