Chinese Ambassador to Antigua & Barbuda Liu Hanming has pledged to further strengthen the relations between Antigua & Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China.
He was speaking last Thursday during the opening ceremony of the Barbuda Community Centre in Codrington.
“China and Antigua & Barbuda built our diplomatic ties on January 1, 1983, and we are going to celebrate our 30th anniversary next year,” he noted.
“In the past years, China and Antigua & Barbuda have supported each other on the international society under the principle of mutual respect.
We have continuously strengthened our co-operation in the fields of politics, economics, trade, education and culture by which we have made profound friendship.”
The Chinese ambassador to Antigua noted the friendship between the two countries has endured a long-term test and is worth treasuring.
Meantime, Member of Parliament for Barbuda Trevor Walker has praised Ambassador David Shoul and Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer for their efforts in ensuring that the Barbuda Community Centre is completed.
The facility is the first China-sponsored project that brings benefits directly to the Barbuda people. It is 620 square metres, including a meeting room, reading hall, computer centre and a gym.
It can hold 150 people gathering at one time, which makes it suitable for meetings, learning courses, casual readings and muscle building.
Walker said the facility symbolises Government’s contribution to the process of nation building.
“I would like to recognise and place on record the unrelenting contribution and sterling efforts of our Non-Resident Ambassador to China Ambassador David Shoul,” he said.
“I can personally attest to the fact that Ambassador Shoul has taken a keen interest in this project by ensuring that it got off the ground and was completed within a year.
“Ambassador Shoul will go down in history as the first non-resident ambassador to China that has facilitated a project on Barbuda during our 28 years of diplomatic relations with that country. Ambassador Shoul, on behalf of the people of Barbuda, I would like to thank you for your perseverance and hard work in ensuring that this community centre was built and now handed over to the people of Barbuda.”
Walker also expressed gratitude to the prime minister for ensuring that Barbuda is a part of the developmental programme of the twin-island state.
(Source http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=70275)
