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The Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in China hosted a reception to celebrate the 60th Diamond-Jubilee anniversary of independence of the country in Beijing on May 29. Anyin Choo, ambassador of Guyana to China reflected on the enduring friendship between Guyana and China - a partnership built not on transient interests, but on mutual respect and a common vision for development.
Guyana is the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to establish diplomatic ties with China.
Ambassador Choo said in her opening remarks that from the two countries' early diplomatic ties that withstood the tests of history to today's robust collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has stood with Guyana as a trusted partner in building roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals that touch the daily lives of every Guyanese.
Since 2018, the BRI has given a strong boost to the further development of China-Guyana relations.
"Our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure demonstrates how two nations, though separated by oceans, are united by the conviction that sovereignty, equality, and pragmatic solidarity can lift entire communities," she said.
In his speech, Zhang Run, director general of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, extended sincere congratulations to Guyana on its 60th independence anniversary, saying "This moment also wrote a glorious chapter in the history of national liberation movements across Latin America and the Caribbean."
China has always stood firmly with Guyana on its journey toward independence and development, he said.
In1853, the first group of Chinese immigrants arrived in Guyana, opening the door to friendly exchanges between the two peoples. This marked the beginning of friendly exchanges between China and Guyana, and the Chinese community has since grown into one of the six major ethnic groups in Guyana, said Zhang. Meanwhile, "in recent years, more Guyanese friends have taken an interest in learning Chinese, visiting China and experiencing Chinese culture."
Zhang also noted that since 1993, China has dispatched 21 medical teams. "They have provided treatment for over 1 million people and recued more than 30,000 critically ill patients, winning high praise across Guyanese people," he added.
Zhang also pointed out that this year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period for economic and social development. The five-year plan is applied for peaceful development, openness and cooperation. "It provides the world, including Guyana, with certainty, stability and new growth momentum," Zhang added.
China will continue to promote high standard opening-up and high-quality development and share development opportunities with countries around the world, he said.
In China, 60 years, is known as jiazi, or "full cycle of sixty years." In Guyana, the 60th anniversary is called the "Diamond Jubilee," though we have different names for it, we both see this special milestone as a symbol of fulfillment and hope, said Zhang.
The Guyanese ambassador also shared Guyana's transformation from a colony to an independent country in its 60 years of achievements. "On May 26, 1966, our nation emerged as a sovereign state, bringing an end to more than 350 years of colonial rule," she said. Guyana took its rightful place among the family of nations, embarking on a path to self-governance with dignity and determination, endeavoring to contribute meaningfully to the international community.
Economically, the Caribbean has moved from almost a mono-crop dependency to a diversified agricultural and mineral development base, Choo said.
Talking about the environment protection efforts, the ambassador said that Guyana has guarded one of the world's last great rainforests - not as a passive inheritance, but as an active global service. Guyana's carbon credits are not a commodity. "They are a statement that conservation and development can coexist," she noted.
"As we raise our glasses to Guyana's progress, we also toast to the deepening bonds with China - proving that true friendship, like our nations' flags, glow brighter when flown together," said Ambassador Choo.
