Trinidad and Tobago was the first stop for President Xi who is also visiting Costa Rica and Mexico during an eight-day tour of the Americas that ends in California Friday with a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.
President Obama visited the same two Latin American countries last month, and Trinidad and Tobago was the only Caribbean country that Vice President Joe Biden visited last week.
During the visit to Port of Spain President Xi announced China’s intention to expand the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and China through trade, aid and cultural ties.
China’s trade with Latin America reached US$261 billion in 2012, a nine per cent increase over the previous year.
Trinidad and Tobago is seeking to expand its links with Beijing in energy, infrastructural development, agriculture and food security, education, sport, information and communication technology and national security.
China is offering a hand of friendship and has committed to work with Caribbean leaders. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar noted that in toasting the Chinese leader.
“We are deeply appreciative of Your Excellency’s commitment to work with all our countries in the Caribbean region for the sustained development of China’s relationship with our part of the world for the benefit of all the peoples of our world,” she said.
“Though China is geographically on the other side of our planet, we are never far,” she added.
In saying goodbye she stated, “While there is pain in parting, there is joy in the anticipation of our meeting again,” which was a clear reference to the official visit she plans to make to China in November at the invitation of President Xi.
Trinidad and Tobago will open its first embassy in Beijing this year, 39 years after establishing diplomatic relations with China.
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