Foreign ministers from across the Caribbean gathered in Xi’an, China this past week for high-level talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in Caribbean-China relations, celebrating a decade of diplomatic and economic engagement through the Forum.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, underscored the significance of the Forum’s 10th anniversary. He described it as a milestone in advancing South-South cooperation and elevating the influence of the Global South on the world stage.
“Caribbean countries are indispensable members of the China-CELAC Forum,” Wang said. “There is vast potential in our cooperation, and we must work together to deepen and solidify this comprehensive partnership.”
Representing Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a strong statement emphasizing unity, shared values and the importance of strategic cooperation amid global uncertainty.
“Our history of mutual respect and expanding collaboration proves that the vast ocean separating our regions is no match for our united aspirations,” Minister Greene said, thanking the Chinese government for its hospitality and the professionalism of the forum’s organization.
He cautioned against the ripple effects of rising global tensions, warning that if left unchecked, they could impose economic and social hardships across the Global South potentially greater than those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That is why this Ministerial Forum holds such significance,” he continued. “It provides space to reaffirm our foundational principles: mutual respect, non-interference in domestic affairs and a shared commitment to solidarity.”
Greene also declared Antigua and Barbuda’s full support for the proposed China-CELAC Joint Action Plan for Cooperation (2025–2027), aligning with its core tenets of equality, mutual benefit, openness and sincere collaboration.
“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with our partners to implement this plan, deliver tangible results and promote the sustainable development and prosperity of our peoples and by extension, the global community,” he affirmed.
He pointed to key sectors for collaboration, including trade, health, education, technology, climate resilience and cultural exchange, noting that these areas are critical to inclusive development in the Caribbean and beyond.
In addition to Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean delegation included foreign ministers and senior representatives from the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Together, they expressed mutual trust and appreciation for China’s consistent support of Caribbean development goals.
Delegates lauded China’s role in championing South-South cooperation and reaffirmed the importance of the China-CELAC Forum as a platform for practical, people-centered engagement.
As the meeting concluded, the tone was one of determination and shared purpose. For the Caribbean, the Forum represented more than diplomacy, it reaffirmed a vision for global partnership grounded in respect, cooperation and common progress.
