Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhenyu (centre), chats with Wilton Buchannan (left), Supervisor at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land; Janelle Cox (second left), manager for information systems at the Planning Institute of Jamaica; Richard Ferguson (second right), systems administrator at the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce; and Donald Grant, help desk coordinator at the Ministry of Education and Youth, at the ambassador's St. Andrew home, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FOUR GOVERNMENT officials are set to travel to China to participate in various training courses set up by the Asian nation's government.
The series of training courses, including education, technology, agriculture, and city planning, is aimed at capacity and nation building. The workshops are expected to last between two weeks and two months and will be staged in Beijing and Harbin province in China.
The four chosen are Janelle Cox, manager for information systems at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ); Richard Ferguson, systems administrator at the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce; Wilton Buchanan, supervisor in the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land; and Donald Grant, help desk coordinator at the Ministry of Education and Youth.
During a farewell reception at the residence of Chinese Ambassador Zhao Zhenyu in St. Andrew, the ambassador said the mission, which is sponsored by his government, is driven to assist developing nations in capacity building.
"I think this is a very good programme, as my government's main focus is on capacity building and I believe that the Jamaican Government will greatly benefit from this arrangement," the Chinese Ambassador said.
IMPROVE DIPLOMATIC TIES
He also said the mission would maintain and improve diplomatic ties between the Jamaican and Chinese governments.
Ms. Cox, in response to the gesture, said she and her colleagues would be using the programme to improve their skills in their various departments.
"I want to thank the People's Republic of China for this opportunity to participate in the training programme, and we believe it will be beneficial to us ... and I am sure you will see improvement in the future," she said.
Some members of the group are expected to leave for China tomorrow and the others on July 28.
