Georgetown, Guyana – (January 28, 2017) The Government and the People of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana extend greetings to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese community here in Guyana on this auspicious occasion of the celebration of the Chinese New Year, the year of the Fire Rooster. We are sure that the occasion is observed not only in the People’s Republic of China but among the millions of persons of Chinese origin all around the world.
Our two Republics – the People’s Republic of China and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana – are 15,000 km apart. Despite this distance and the demographic and geographical disparities, we have been united by bonds of blood, history and friendship. We must celebrate that history, strengthen those bonds and deepen that friendship to the mutual benefit of our peoples.
Chinese arrived in Guyana 163 years ago as indentured labourers and they were welcomed then. Many of them came as labourers but they quickly graduated into other professions. Guyana and China have shared strong ties of friendship. Guyana became a Republic in 1970 and within two years we had established diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China – the first English speaking country in the Caribbean to do so.
We were the ones to support, in the General Assembly of the United Nations, the call for the recognition of the People’s Republic of China when it had been shut out of the councils of the international communities by other big powerhouses. Since then we signed a number of cooperation agreements in the field of infrastructure, health, defence, river transportation, energy, culture, education and information technology. We’re no longer casual acquaintances; we are partners in economic development.
The healthy relation and partnership that developed between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China has facilitated the deepening of the economic partnership between our two countries. China’s economic performance remains a source of inspiration to the people of Guyana.
It is my honour, therefore, on behalf of the government and people of Guyana to once again extend best wishes for a productive New Year to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Fire Rooster.
The Cooperative Republic of Guyana celebrates 45 years of diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of Chine this year and in so doing, looks forward to deepening the relations between the two countries. It looks forward to creating lasting economic partnerships, building on the solid relationship of the past 45 years. We anticipate that through our financial engagements and through cooperation agreements signed between Guyana and China and other regional organizations; that development, trade, investment and cooperation can be further intensified.
Guyana is happy to join in the celebration of the Year of the Fire Rooster.
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