Leonardo Blair, Staff ReporterA HIGH powered Chinese delegation was present at yesterday's official opening of the China-Caribbean Trade Fair at the National Arena where over 90 Caribbean and Chinese businesses displayed products.
The Chinese delegation included Mr. Zeng Qinghong, vice-president of China, Madame Ma Xiuhong, Chinese vice-minister for Commerce, and An Min, Chinese vice-president of Commerce.
Several Caribbean dignitaries also attended the event, including Baldwin Spencer, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Carlos Lage Davila, vice-chairman of State Affairs of Cuba and Jules R. Ajodhia, vice-president of Suriname.
"The fair will be introducing you to the achievements made by China in building its economy since the reform and opening up drive, the growth of our state-level economic and technical development zones as well as bilateral relationships including economic and trade cooperation between China, Latin America and the Caribbean region," said Mr. Min who gave the opening address.
He pointed out that some eighteen Chinese and Latin American countries will be showing off their products in the field of technology along with best practices in engineering and other forms of labour engaged by Chinese companies in the region.
Following yesterday's launch of the China-Caribbean Trade Fair, Robert Pickersgill, minister of transport and Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China National Machinery and Equipment Corp., signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) "to undertake the necessary study with a view to committing a Chinese Company to revitalise (Jamaica's) railway system."
The MoU calls for a "rehabilitation/construction of the rail system in Jamaica and shall include adequate types and numbers of passenger coaches, cargo wagons and locomotives."
"So far we have not seen the site as yet but in the next two or three weeks after our spring festival we are going to be sending our technical team to Jamaica," said Wang Yuhang, vice-president of China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd, which is expected to undertake the revival of the railway system.
There have been several initiatives aimed at restarting a railway system in Jamaica but without success. Just last November, Finance Minister Omar Davies called on Jamaicans in England to look for an investor to revive the island's railway service.
