REMARKS BY THE HON. FREDERICK A. MITCHELL, MP MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

REMARKS BY

THE HON. FREDERICK A. MITCHELL, MP

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF

THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS

ONTHE OCCASION OF THE

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN 

HE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 

NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS

 

THURSDAY, 19TH MAY, 2022

 

 

His Excellency, The Most Honourable Sir Cornelius A. Smith, Governor-General,

The Honourable Philip “Brave” Davis, Prime Minister,

Ambassador DAI Qingli (Pronounced Die Ching-lee),

Members of the Judiciary,

Colleague Ministers and Parliamentarians, 

Members of the Diplomatic and Honorary Consular Corps, 

Senior Public Servants, 

Distinguished Guests, Friends of the Chinese and Bahamian Community, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good Evening.

I am honoured and delighted to be here, as we gather to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China. 

The Bahamas is honoured to be commemorating this special day with China and the productive years our countries have fostered since our relations were established, the actual day being this coming Monday, 23rd May, 1997.

This past quarter century has been mutually beneficial through the ongoing joint activities and projects, which have displayed the determination to develop further and expand growth in both of our nations. Our partnership continues to deepen each year in many arenas, both on a government-to-government level and on a people-to-people level. 

While much of our governmental partnership thus far has included investment and trade-related activities, technical support and political dialogue, our relations have also further advanced our peoples individually and corporately through skills-development, education, business explorations and expansions in many areas, and cultural exchanges.

We have had Bahamian nationals who have studied in China who are now owners of chain companies, lecturers at universities, interpreters for public agencies, and doctors and nurses, just to name a few. Many of these Bahamians were beneficiaries of the Chinese Government Scholarship and were left with rewarding experiences and an appreciation for the Chinese people and culture. Some of our Bahamians have stayed in China and others have moved there and are leading productive lives, to the benefit of both our countries, and as a sign of the breadth of our developing relations.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Bahamas is pleased at the ongoing, successful, mutual support arrangements with China on the international front, at the level of the United Nations, through South-South Co-operation, and on the multilateral platform through Sino-Caribbean relations. We look forward to maintaining these avenues in a fruitful direction.

Our friendly relations have also been demonstrated through the generous donations and assistance from China in helping The Bahamas steadfastly in its national efforts: from the recovery from the devastating aftermath following Hurricane Dorian to combatting COVID-19;  the further expansion of The Bahamas’ agricultural sector and national development goals through the donations of greenhouses; the plethora of infrastructural development projects; and the many exhibitions and experience-sharing platforms. The Government and people of The Bahamas are most grateful for this assistance. We commit to enhancing our partnership with China, with the understanding that China will do so likewise, through high-level encounters and at the local level.

May The Bahamas-China relations continue progressing well in the many years ahead.

Ambassador,

On behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas, I would welcome your kind conveying of the words and sentiments I have spoken and expressed to your President, your Premier, your Foreign Minister, your Government and your people at home.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please join me and raise our glasses in a toast to this special occasion:

To the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China.

Thank you.

 

 

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