Dominica is expected to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative of the Peoples Republic of China.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organizations in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Some of the objectives of this initiative are to construct a unified large market and make full use of both international and domestic markets, through cultural exchange and integration, to enhance mutual understanding and trust of member nations, ending up in an innovative pattern with capital inflows, talent pool, and technology database.
The initial focus has been infrastructure investment, education, construction materials, railway and highway, automobile, real estate, power grid, and iron and steel.
H.E. Zhang Jinxiong, Former Chinese Ambassador to Suriname paid a working visit to Dominica from September 15 to 16 and met with the a media at the Chinese Embassy in Morne Daniel on Sunday, September 16 where he underlined the importance of Belt and Road Initiative as part of Chinese foreign policy and relations.
The Ambassador highlighted the fact that the commonwealth of Dominica has signed an MOU in 2018 as it relates to the Belt and Road initiative and stated that discussions on better cooperation in this framework is paramount.
“Mankind is undergoing major developments…Chinese president believes that the world is in the midst of profound and complex changes that have never happened in 100 years…the trend of global political plurality; economic globalization; its application and cultural diversity are the distinct teacher of the time, ” stated Ambassador Jinxiong…”the Chinese people have always tied their destiny closely to that of the people around the world. The Chinese president Xi Jinping, therefore put forward the great thought of building a new type of international relations and community with shared future for mankind.”
Mutual respect where countries respect counties sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and the right of countries to choose their own development path as well as peaceful cooperation, pursuing shared interests, adhering to openness and inclusiveness and promoting green development are all a part of this initiative according to the ambassador.
He touted china’s good relationship with Caribbean and Latin American counties with mutual respect, commenting that Dominica has always stood by the One China Policy and the Peoples Republic of China has been very grateful for this support.
When asked how Does Dominica specifically fit into the Belt and Road initiative, the ambassador stated that China has the resources and technology to assist developmentally which Dominica can benefit from through the MOU.
One thing I’m certain about is that China don’t do anything for free. I would like to know what’s in it for them? We all should be sharing that same concern.
We must understand nothing is free,I do agree the Caribbean needs help,but at what cost.what does the MOU states far as the terms based on one party holding to the agreement and the reprecautions if it is not followed. We do know from experience Skerrit never let Dominicans know the terms of such deals,and for some of us who do not understand diplomacy China has ulterior motives and future plans.Remember by the time a fool learn the game the players have departed.
Garvey, leave the rest of the Caribbean out of this: The rest of the Caribbean doing very well economically.
Trinidad is in the Caribbean, Guyana is in the Caribbean, but as poor as the Guyanese are, their economy is not based on the sale of Guyana passports!
Of the former British colonies Trinidad is the richest; what the Chines have done in any island of the Caribbean, the late Dr. Erick Williams gave every island the opportunity to get the same kind of help from Trinidad.
All Erick asked was that the islands did not asks for help with anything to compete with Trinidad.
That is why Edison James and the UWP could have got support from Trinidad to build the International Airport which Roosevelt and Roosevelt Douglas, and company shut down when the siege power as a coalition government.
Take a look at all the other islands they are ahead of backward Dominica. Don’t compare other islands with Dominica; there are no comparisons!
Our problem is Roosevelt Skerrit!
There is no bilateral trade where China is concern, what does China buy from Dominica? The only thing the Chinese does is take our money which they borrow us then we have to repay. This mou was never made public, just a bag of secret dealings between skerrit and these Chinese people.
What’s the secrecy? Go ahead and publicly publish the MoU for us all D/cans, those in the region and internationally to be enlightened.
We don’t want to ‘benefit’ from your ‘generosity’. We, the people have not even seen the MOU. For that reason go away. It’s very simple, China doesn’t help Dominica but it rather helps Skerrit. That is the naked truth!
Ni hao, Zhang Jinxiong.
How benevolent of your country to lavish support on Dominica without expecting ANYTHING in return. What? Your payback is stipulated in the MOU? Sorry. Skerrit said it’s not our damned business.
Dominica fell asleep as a democracy and awoke as a communist dictatorship.
We do not have any raw materials K that China wants in return. However, it does want to secure Dominica as an important transit point in their road & belt scheme. It is our strategic location, and in particular the underutilised Portsmouth harbour, which is an important asset and that is what we can put into play in our negotiations with them. They don’t really care, who runs the show locally as long as they have a trusted and reliable partner, who provides an assurance that things run smoothly and harmoniously, whether that be Roosevelt Skerrit, Lennox Linton or someone else for that matter. It is not about personalities but a steady hand. We can not ignore China and if we are smart, use our connections with them to our mutually benefit.
“The Belt and Road Initiative is a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organizations in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. ”
Man stop your crap!
Stop lying:
The Americas (also collectively called America ; French : Amérique, Dutch : Amerika, Spanish and Portuguese : América) comprise the totality of the continents of North and South America.
Together, they make up most of the land in Earth’s western hemisphere and comprise the New World.
North and South America, comprise Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Are you implying that you and China are going to build roads in America, Canada, and Mexico?
Take you crap elsewhere and pack it!
If you are not educated in world geography go back to China get educated in geography.
You can fool Roosevelt and his supports, but all of us Dominicans are not idiots!
How come no Dominican has seen or read the M O U only yours truly has seen and read it and tells the citizens “trust me”. The average Dominican should be able to go to the Court House and read the document for themselves to see what is in it, why the secrecy Mr PM? Yours truly Finance minister in sole control of the money.
Beware Dominica. Watch the recent BBC documentary on the Chinese Premier and see how China captures nations with loans they are ultimately unable to pay. It is a dangerous path.
tell them make proper guttering and side walks when they making “new” roads for us. We not in that nonsense when brand new surfaced roads causing more disaster from poor water management. Undermining what was just done. Plus we are people who walk. not everyone drives. WE NEED SIDEWALKS. and rumble strips on the edges of roads, especially in areas that are not properly lit.
oh really imo all the roads into Roseau where Digicel digup the roads to put their fibre needs resurfacing not patch patch sloppy nonsense work, maybe we need some china belt and road people to come down and do the resurfacing