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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville is pictured right as he welcomed His Excellency Huang Qinguo, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on his first official visit to Grand Bahama during a courtesy call at the Ministry for Grand Bahama, September 22, 2016. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – His Excellency Huang Qinguo, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is on a two-day visit to Grand Bahama, with the Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville warmly welcoming the diplomat to the nation’s second city, September 22, 2016.
Ambassador Qinguo, accompanied by his wife Madam Zheng Chuncao, is on his first official visit to the island, touted as the industrial capital of The Bahamas.
In welcoming the Chinese Ambassador during a courtesy call at the Ministry for Grand Bahama, Dr. Darville pointed out that the governments of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China share a longstanding mutually beneficial relationship, which has resulted in economic growth and strong bilateral ties for both countries over the past two decades.
Mr. Darville advised that on the island of Grand Bahama, the relationship between The Bahamas and China extends back to the 1990’s when Hutchison Whampoa made their initial investment in Freeport and developed the Freeport Container Port.
Also, he said that China’s benevolence extends to the empowerment of the Bahamian people through education, as the Government of the People’s Republic of China continues to offer full scholarships to Bahamians who wish to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in a wide variety of academic disciplines.
Further the Minister for Grand Bahama informed that the Bright Journey Program, which has provided free cataract surgeries, as well as equipment, instruments and medical supplies over the past two years, has helped to restore the sight of approximately 150 Grand Bahamians.
Telling the Ambassador that Grand Bahama Island has limitless potential, he encouraged him to explore all that the island has to offer as they work together to advance cultural exchanges, trade and investment.
The Chinese Ambassador voiced that he had been looking forward to his visit to Grand Bahama as it is an important city with a Port, and offers a climate for both tourism and industry.
He stressed that over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1997, the two countries have constantly deepened their mutual understanding of politics, and deepened and expanded economic cooperation, including ‘People to People’ exchanges between the two countries.
Speaking with the assistance of a translator, Ambassador Qinguo said the cooperation between China and Grand Bahama Island remains very, very good and very strong.
He said his visit affords him the opportunity to get more information about Grand Bahama and gain a lot of new friends.
“I also want to seek more opportunities for our exchanges and communication,” he stated while thanking the Minister for Grand Bahama for his assistance in the visit.
“I believe that through this visit we can deepen our mutual understanding and some cooperation between our two countries,” he said.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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