Above: Spencer and Gao sign the agreement (Photo: ABG)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has signed an economic and technical cooperation agreements with China totaling almost $10.5 million.

The two sides signed the agreement Monday, with Antiguan Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Gao Hucheng, Vice Minister in China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The deal will include the construction of a secondary school in Five Islands, along with cooperation on the Sir Vivian Richard Cricket Stadium and funding for other projects.

The deal included $1.01 million agreement for economic cooperation, $4.74 million for the construction of the school and a $4.74 million loan for a development project.

Next year will mark 30 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

China has increased its interaction with the country in recent years, highlighted by the handing over of a 30-megawatt power plant at Crabbes, which caused some controversy.

Gao said he was looking forward to establishing new areas of cooperation that would encourage two-wade trade and economic development.