NASSAU – The Bahamas – The governments of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and of The People’s Republic of China are set to sign an Economic Technical Cooperation Agreement during the visit of His Excellency Wang Qishan, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on Saturday, September 10, 2011.
Mr. Wang arrives around 3 p.m. with a delegation of about 30 Chinese officials at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, where Government officials will greet them in the VIP Lounge.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Brent Symonette will sign the agreement on behalf of The Bahamas Government and Mr. Wang on behalf of the Chinese Government. The signing ceremony will take place at the Atlantis on Paradise Island.
Following, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas will host a dinner in honour of the Vice Premier and his delegation in the Grand Ballroom of the Atlantis.
The agreement provides for grant funding for projects mutually agreed, to be undertaken in The Bahamas, amongst other things.
The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations in May 1997. Both countries have entered into a number of arrangements from technical cooperation and assistance to education through scholarship programmes.
Mr. Wang leaves the country on Sunday, September 11, 2011 to attend the 3rd Caribbean-China Economic and Trade Forum scheduled for September 12-13 in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Representatives from The Bahamas government and the business community are also expected to attend that conference.
By Lindsay Thompson
Bahamas Information Services
