In 2025, trade volume between China and the 15 CARICOM countries reached US$9.63 billion, a year-on-year increase of nearly 50%.
That’s according to Deputy Head of Mission and Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in T&T, Yang Han, who noted that both CARICOM and China continue to strengthen bilateral ties.
Speaking at an academic symposium on China–Caribbean cooperation on Tuesday, he highlighted the fast-growing partnership.
Reaffirming China’s commitment to friendship and shared progress with the region, he underscored China’s recent assistance of 100 million yuan to Trinidad and Tobago for the construction of a new forensic science centre.
“The two sides are set to launch construction of the new Forensic Science Centre in Trinidad and Tobago. I’m confident that it will become a modern high-tech facility helping Trinidad and Tobago better address the critical challenges of crime.”
He added that a cohort of Caribbean countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative – China’s flagship global infrastructure and economic development strategy – have already benefited from significant national upgrades.
“A host of key cooperation projects, including the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate in Trinidad and Tobago, the Demerara Harbour Bridge in Guyana, and the North-South Highway in Jamaica, have been completed, effectively boosting local economic growth and improving people’s livelihoods.”
The Deputy Head of Mission noted that, regardless of global circumstances, China remains committed to working with Caribbean nations to build an even closer community with a shared future.
Meanwhile, Economist Dr. Indera Sagewan emphasised the potential to strengthen regional tourism by adapting elements of the historic Silk Road model to encourage greater people-to-people exchange.
“China is one of the largest countries in terms of population, and we’re talking about people-to-people, tourism is important in the region. How do we bring more Chinese tourists to the region? A simple one is if we could just bring a tiny percentage of what your travellers are.”
The discussion under the theme “China-Caribbean Cooperation Amid a Changing World” was hosted at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business on Tuesday.