Above: Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan and Guyanese President Donald Ramotar

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Guyana and China signed a pair of agreements totaling $6.5 million today during visit by Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan to the country.

The deals included $4.3 million to finance development projects and $2.2 million to provide firefighting equipment for the Guyana Fire Service.

The agreements were signed by Zhong and Guyanese Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh.

Zhong also held talks with President Donald Ramotar during the visit.

According to Zhong, the purpose of the trip was to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and implement the decisions made during the Third China-Caribbean Forum in September 2011.

He also said that with China looking to expand trade in the coming years, he hoped Guyana could become an active trading partner.

The two sides also discussed China-supported projects already underway, including the One Laptop Per Family initiative and the E-Government programme.