Above: Guyana President Donald Ramotar

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Guyana hosted a reception Wednesday celebrating the 40th year of diplomatic relations between Guyana and China.

Guyana President Donald Ramotar said there was “ample testimony” to strong bonds of friendship between the two countries.

“This has been the hallmark of the relation that has developed over these four decades between the Republic of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China,” Ramotar said. “Relations that have been founded on mutual respect and a sincere commitment to pursue activities for the ultimate goal of the economic and social development of our peoples.”

Ramotar said Guyana’s links with China dated back from as far back as 1853, when the first Chinese immigrants arrived in Guyana.

“Over these decades, not only have we seen the benefit from the political and trade links with high-level exchange visits between leaders and government officials, but our engagements at the party level have also flourished through a shared vision of the need to work for the improvement of the quality of life for our people and promoting equality an social justice,” he said.

The President also said Guyana was committed to its position on the “One China Policy.”

China and Guyana have pursued what Ramotar called “vibrant” cooperation between the two countries, highlighted of late by China’s support for the One Laptop Per Family initiative in Guyana.

“China and Guyana have a long history of friendly exchanges,” Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe said. “The relations and cooperation between China and Guyana have stood the test of time.”