International

Chinese Mordernization : Greater Prosperity for China, Brighter Future for the World

At the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping provided a systematic explanation of Chinese modernization, highlighting its connotation and distinctive features, and emphasized that Chinese modernization offers humanity a new choice for achieving modernization. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese people have provided humanity with more Chinese insight, better Chinese input, and greater Chinese strength to help solve its common challenges. The successful implementation of Chinese modernization is not only profoundly reshaping China but also leaving a profound impact on the world.

Chinese modernization will be a stronger boost for global economic recovery. Chinese modernization is the modernization of a huge population. Over the past 40-plus years since reform and opening-up, the Chinese government has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty, and enlarged the middle-income group to over 400 million people. As a country with a population of over 1.4 billion transitioning to modernization, China’s scale exceeds the combined population of all current developed nations. Leveraging the advantages of its super large-scale market and enormous domestic potential, China will continue to serve as a vital engine of the global economy, offering market opportunities, funding, and technology cooperation to nations worldwide.

Chinese modernization will open up a broader path to the common development of all countries. Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all and serves the common development of countries worldwide. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) are public goods that China offers to the international community. They are also open platforms for pursuing common development and prosperity, giving a strong boost to the early attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. China is actively and fully implementing the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and has contributed as much as 63 percent of the total debt payments suspended.

Chinese modernization will open up bright prospects for human progress.Chinese modernization is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) put forth by President Xi Jinping advocates the importance of inheritance and innovations of civilizations, promotes the respect for the diversity of civilizations, and advances the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations. Chinese modernization will add new vigor and vitality to the profound Chinese civilization, and contribute more Chinese wisdom to global peace and prosperity and to human progress.

Chinese modernization will provide a more viable pathway to a clean and beautiful world. Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. China readily takes on its responsibility of protecting the environment and tackling climate change, and leads the world on many counts. It has become the largest country in the world in terms of afforestation, renewable energy development and utilization, and new-energy vehicle production and sales. China has made the solemn pledge of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality to the world, committed itself to moving from carbon peak to neutrality in just 30 years, and contributed to the conclusion of the Paris Agreement.

Chinese modernization wil bring more certainty to world peace and stability. Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. Until today, China is the only country in the world that has put in its Constitution the commitment to a path of peaceful development. China is the top contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the only country among the five Nuclear-Weapon States that has made the promise of no-first-use of nuclear weapons. The Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forward by President Xi Jinping has pointed out the right direction of pursuing common and universal security. Facilitated by China, Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations. In the face of the protracted Ukraine crisis, China has taken an impartial stance and pushed for peace talks.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang pointed out at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum on Chinese Modernization and the World that the Chinese path to modernization is not a one-flower show, still less for self-interest. It is a path toward development of China, through which more positive energy will be added to global peace and new opportunities created for global development. Both China and Barbados are developing countries. To achieve development and prosperity in an all-round way is the common aspiration of our two peoples. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between our two countries 46 years ago, the bilateral ties have maintained a sound momentum of growth, and the two countries have carried out fruitful cooperation. Recently, the construction of Sam Lord’s Castle Hotel with preferential loan from China has entered its final stage. China-aided project, the Center for Food Security and Entrepreneurship, has started construction. China and Barbados have also signed a Concessional Loan Agreement for Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project; China has further provided anti-epidemic and medical assistance as well as disaster prevention and mitigation assistance to Barbados; while major progress has been made regarding the National Stadium Redevelopment project. China and Barbados are cooperating more closely in common development.

The year 2023 marks the beginning of full implementation of the guiding principles laid down at the 20th CPC National Congress. It is also an important year for the friendly relations between China and Barbados to enter a new stage of development. The government of China stands ready to work with the government of Barbados to implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, strengthen strategic communication, continues to promote cooperation between our two countries in key areas such as infrastructure, food security, medical care, culture and education, and further tap the cooperation potential in digital economy, blue economy, new energy and modern agriculture, continue to implement the GDI, the GSI and the GCI, promote high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, build an even closer China-Barbados community of shared future, join hands for a bright future of modernization.

International

Washington DC Fifth Graders Learn About Barbados

Last Friday, a fifth-grade class from JC Nalle Elementary in Washington DC, visited Barbados’ Embassy in Washington as part of the Embassy Adoption Program (EAP). The visit was the culmination of a series of sessions which started in November 2024.

The EAP is a global education programme that links fifth and sixth grade classes with embassies and other global entities to provide DC Public School students with a unique opportunity to expand their global awareness.

The class was initially visited by former teacher, now diplomat, First Secretary William Clarke and staffer, Elle Duguid of the embassy. Mr. Clarke and Ms. Duguid taught students general facts about Barbados including its location, history, government, and economy.

During a second visit in December, the students learned about cricket, ‘bajan’ dialect, the island’s festivals, including Crop Over, and also about celebrations held within Barbados.

For the third and fourth visits respectively, the students were informed about We Gatherin’ and Barbados’ geography, nature and landscape. The Embassy concluded its visits to the school with a presentation on climate vulnerability and sustainability in Barbados.

To cap the programme off, students visited the embassy to meet with Barbados’ Ambassador to the United States of America, Vic Fernandes, to whom they made a presentation on what they learned. The students performed a medley of skits and dances highlighting Barbados’ history and culture. After the presentation, Ambassador Fernandes hosted the students for lunch.

Next month, the JC Nalle Elementary students will participate in the EAP’s Mini United Nations simulation representing Barbados. There, the students will debate the important topic of climate vulnerability and deliver a final presentation showcasing what they learned throughout the programme. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Barbados’ Ambassador to the United States, Vic Fernandes (right), and staff of the Embassy of Barbados in Washington, D.C., pose with fifth graders of JC Nalle Elementary

International

CHINA ANNOUNCES VISA FREE TRAVEL FOR SOME LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

China plans to expand its visa-free policy for five Latin American/#Caribbean countries and offer 3,500 scholarships and 10,000 training opportunities, as part of a five-programme plan to advance shared development and revitalisation with LAC countries. source Caribbean News UK

International

President Xi Jinping urges solidarity, deeper cooperation at China-CELAC meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is willing to strengthen solidarity with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and announced five major programs to jointly pursue development and revitalization with LAC countries on Tuesday.

The five programs, solidarity, development, civilization, peace, and people-to-people connectivity, were announced by Xi while delivering a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing.

On the solidarity program, Xi said China is willing to strengthen solidarity with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and continue to support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns to firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and international order underpinned by international law and to speak with one voice in international and regional affairs.

In the next three years, China will invite 300 members from political parties of CELAC member states every year to visit China to facilitate exchanges on national governance best practices, Xi said.

Regarding the development program, Xi said China is willing to work with LAC countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, resolutely uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure stable, unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and promote an international environment of openness and cooperation.

Noting that the two sides should foster greater synergy between their development strategies and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said China will import more quality products from LAC countries and encourage Chinese enterprises to expand their investment in the region.

On the civilization program, Xi called for the joint implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative. He said both sides should uphold the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, champion humanity’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, and enhance China-LAC civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, including through a conference on China-LAC inter-civilizational dialogue.

For the peace program, Xi called for the joint implementation of the Global Security Initiative. He said both sides should cooperate more closely in disaster governance, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, anti-corruption, narcotics control, and combating transnational organized crime to safeguard security and stability in the region.

Regarding people-to-people connectivity, Xi said in the next three years, China will provide CELAC member states with 3,500 government scholarships, 10,000 training opportunities in China, 500 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarships, 300 training opportunities for poverty reduction professionals, and 1,000 funded placements through the Chinese Bridge program, initiate 300 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects, and support CELAC member states in developing Chinese language education.

China has decided to offer a visa-free policy to five LAC countries and will expand the policy to cover more regional countries in due course, Xi said.

Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, the CELAC rotating chair, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, and Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank and former Brazilian president, respectively, addressed the event.

The special representative for Yamandu Orsi, president of Uruguay and the incoming CELAC rotating chair, read out the president’s congratulatory letter.

Faced with a world full of uncertainties, LAC countries and China should work together to promote continuous new progress in building a community with a shared future, they said.

Both sides should respect each other and firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and choosing their own development path, they said, calling for strengthening the synergy between the development strategies of LAC countries and the Belt and Road Initiative and promoting cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology, new energy and education.

The two sides should also promote exchanges and dialogues among civilizations, safeguard the authority of the UN, support multilateralism and free trade, and oppose unilateralism, protectionism, power politics, and bullying to safeguard the common interests of the Global South, they added.

CAPTION: Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, Beijing, capital of China, May 13, 2025