The Hon.Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works,

　　Your Worship the Mayor of Kingston,

　　Dr. Harry Benjamin, Managing Director of New Line Motors,

　　Mrs. Carolyn Nenjamin, Director,

　　Distinguished Guests

　　Ladies and Gentlemen:

　　It gives me much pleasure to join you at this launching ceremony, which symbolizes a new stage in the economic cooperation and trade links between China and Jamaica.

　　We all must have noticed that on the Jamaican market, there are many merchandise coming from China, but it is the first time for us to see China’s passenger buses in Jamaica thanks to the concerted efforts by Jamaica’s New Line Motors and China’s Yutong manufacturer. Yutong is the brand of said buses. Yutong is a very good name in the Chinese language, and it means “leading to the universe”. Its implied meaning is that Yutong buses will be running all over the world. I wish them good luck! Today Yutong is running here in Jamaica, and tomorrow New Ling Motors will successfully get it to the whole Caribbean region – that is my sincere wish for New Line Motors.

　　As the Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, I am quite confident that with the rapid boosting of tourism industry in Jamaica, more and more 25-seat luxury Yutong buses will be used in this country as well as in your neighbouring countries of the region. So on this happy occasion, please allow me to extend our warm congratulations to New Line Motors for being appointed as the exclusive dealership for “Yutong”. I must say New Line Motors has chosen the right partner because “Yutong” enjoys good reputation on the market both at home and abroad. Yutong will impress Jamaican and Caribbean customers with its basic features: good quality, good service and good price.

　　Talking about the “first time”, it reminds me of China and Jamaica’s bilateral trade. Also for the first time, our trade volume surpassed 200 million USD mark in 2003. And again it was the first time that Jamaica had exported more to China. You win, we lose, but both are happy.

　　But in the meantime, we should keep in mind that 207 million USD – that is the exact trade volume between China and Jamaica last year -- accounts for only about 4% of the trade turnover of Jamaica and it is even less when compared with China’s total trade volume of 851 billion USD last year. Obviously there is a great potential for both sides to further our trade relations in the future.

　　Actually both Chinese and Jamaican Government have been actively encouraging its respective entrepreneurs to do more business with each other. Last year the Chinese Ministry of Commerce organized a contingent of entrepreneurs to participate in the Expo 2003 held in Montego Bay, seeking for more business opportunities. There seems to be a wave of Jamaican heat in China now as the Embassy receives more requires from China about business and investment in Jamaica. And on the Jamaican side, big companies such as Grace & Kennedy and Lasco etc. have been making efforts to establish business contacts in China.

　　During the past 25 years, China’s GDP has registered an average annual growth rate of 9.4%, and now the Jamaican economy is quickly recovering, starting from the booming tourism industry, veteran bauxite and agriculture sectors. With the development of our respective economics, the bilateral trade between China and Jamaica, I am sure, will make big strides in the days to come.

　　My thanks again to New Line Motors, and my best wishes to your cooperation with Yutong.

　　My thanks also to the Hon. Minister and His worship the Mayor for your support.

　　Thank you.