Above: Major General Antony Anderson, JDF, left, and Deputy Chief of China’s Foreign Affairs Office, Major General Jia Xiaoning (JIS Photo)

The Chinese government is providing $1.1 million in military aid to Jamaica, one of the most significant military aid packages given to the island country.

The agreement, which was signed at the Jamaica Defence Force’s Up Park Camp Headquarters in Kingston today, was signed by JDF Chief of Defence Staff Major General Antony Anderson and Major General Jia Xiaoning, the deputy chief of China’s Foreign Affairs Office.

“What [the deal] will do is to provide logistic support to us and this will enhance our capabilities by providing more resources that we can apply to everything we do,” Anderson said.

The two sides haven’t yet decided how the money will be spent, with members of the People’s Liberation Army and Jamaican officials to discuss the matter over the next few months.

“How to utilise this amount is an issue which we will address later, and if we reach consensus on the utilisation of this amount, we will sign another protocol to put in practice this agreement,” Jia Xiaoning said.

The deal follows a major investment by China into Jamaica’s sugar industry that was finalized last week. China is also spending funds on road construction on the island, along with rebelling infrastructure and a national convention centre in western Jamaica.

–Jamaica Information Service