The Government of the Peopleﾴs Republic of China has committed to financing a national stadium, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who said the investment could amount to $30 million.
Minister Mitchell is accompanying Prime Minister Perry Christie and a Bahamian delegation on a state visit to China.
The Chinese have long been interested in a mutually beneficial relationship with the Bahamas.
Minister Mitchell said the commitment for the stadium came at a signing ceremony for a cultural agreement.
ﾓThe agreement for the stadium is quite a capstone to the Prime Ministerﾴs visit and [it represents] strong efforts to get this for the youth of our nation,ﾒ said Minister Mitchell in a telephone interview with the Bahama Journal.
Already, the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has hosted the Bahamas delegation to a state banquet and members of that delegation have enjoyed a military band salute.
There are plans for a Chinese technical team to arrive here within several months to lay the groundwork for the stadium.
ﾓWe expect the team to visit in four months because many of the renderings and drawings have already been done and a site has been identified and weﾴre really hoping to get this up and going within 28 months,ﾒ said Mr. Mitchell. ﾓWe see some visible signs of this getting off the ground.ﾒ
Upon his arrival to China, Mr. Christie was greeted by the Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas in Beijing on Sunday. He said he was ﾓpleased to be in Chinaﾒ and that he was ﾓlooking forwardﾒ to high level discussions to be held between the two countries. ﾠ
The official programme included a trip to the Great Wall of China and a formal meeting between the Premier and Prime Minister Christie.
The Prime Minister and Mrs. Christie are accompanied by their daughter, Alexandra Christie. ﾠ
In addition, various diplomatic and technical officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs both from New Providence and relevant posts overseas arrived in Beijing prior to the delegation.
China has been interested in Bahamas relations for quite a while, throwing its support behind the Bahamas accession to the World Trade Organization [WTO] and expressing its interest in furthering economic ties.
The Chinese government has encouraged enterprises to invest in The Bahamas in light industry, agriculture and fishing and the Bahamas Government has been encouraging more investment from Chinese companies and wants more goods from China directly.
The Bahamas imported about 1.5 billion US dollars worth of consumer goods in 2002 from China, Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller has said.
The Bahamas has become Chinaﾴs second-largest trading partner in the English-speaking Caribbean area.
According to official Chinese reports, China-Bahamas trade increased by about 80 per cent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2003, reaching 94.8 million US dollars.
While in China, the Prime Ministerﾴs delegation is expected to hold meetings with Chinese officials at all levels and will be hosted to several state and official events. ﾠThe official delegation will return from the State Visit to China on Monday, August 23.
The Bahama Journal
