Mr. David Brown, Acting Director of the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to join the Institute of Jamaica and the Chinese community this morning in saluting the proud history and tremendous contributions that Chinese Jamaicans have made on this beautiful island.
I wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Institute for making “The Chinese in Jamaica 1854-present” as the working theme of its annual Open House week, and to all of you for readiness to expose yourself to the sub-culture of Chinese Jamaicans. To highlight the Chinese presence in Jamaica, the Institute has arranged a series of cultural activities with a Chinese flavor, including demonstrations of Chinese cultural forms and Chinese cuisine. I hope, to all of you, this exhibition will become a valuable experience and the beginning of your appreciation of the local Chinese community and the profound Chinese culture.
China and Jamaica are geographically far away from each other, but they enjoy a long history of friendly contacts. July 30th, 1854 witnessed the arrival of the first group of Chinese immigrants in Jamaica. Having settled down on this land of wood and water, those pioneers worked very hard as indentured labourers in sugar cane plantations. Later when life was less tough for them, they moved to the villages, running convenience stores or engaged in other professions. Whatever they did, they maintained the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, characterized by hard-working, sincerity, integrity and professionalism. And these, combined with the good qualities of the people of other ethnic groups such as honesty, faithfulness, generosity and tolerance, have formed the characters of the Jamaican Chinese community. For more than 150 years, the Chinese community has continuously contributed their talents to the development of Jamaica and gradually integrated themselves with other ethnic groups in this highly diversified society, making itself a perfect example of the national motto of Jamaica: “Out of many, one people”.
I would like to note with great appreciation that, while actively participating in the nation building of Jamaica, the Chinese community has been making great efforts to promote friendship and cooperation between their motherland and the country their ancestors chose to live. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972 and especially in recent years, China and Jamaica have enjoyed an all-round friendly cooperation, as evidenced by frequent exchange of visits among leaders of both countries, increased trade volume, flourishing cultural and sports exchanges and close cooperation on international affairs. The local Chinese community has played an important role in advancing this relationship, highlighted by former Prime Minister P J Patterson’s invitation for representatives of the Chinese community to be part of his delegation to visit China in June last year. It is my belief that the Chinese community will continue to serve as a significant bridge to further the friendly and cooperative relationship between our two countries.
This week’s events organized by the Institute have afforded us an opportunity to remember the history of the Chinese community, their contribution to the development of Jamaica as well as their involvement in promoting Sino-Jamaican relations. China and Jamaica have set themselves for further boosting their bilateral relations through the establishment of the Friendly Partnership for Common Development. I am confident that the future of the local Chinese community will be more flourishing and prosperous as our two peoples are working for a stronger China, a better Jamaica, and a closer relationship between our two countries.
Thank you.