On June 29, 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Guyana held the 50th Anniversary Ceremony of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Hon. Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips, Hon. Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Hon. Mme Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Hon. Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and many other Cabinet members, friends from all sectors of Guyana, the Diplomatic Corps in Guyana, as well as representatives of Chinese medical team, Confucius Institute, Chinese enterprises and Chinese communities in Guyana participated in the event. The ceremony opened with a lion dance performance. H.E. Ambassador Guo Haiyan and H.E. President Ali delivered warm remarks.

In her remarks, H.E. Ambassador Guo recalled several groundbreaking historical moments and significant cooperation achievements between China and Guyana in the past 50 years, and summarized the three main spiritual connotations of China-Guyana relations, including Mutual Respect and Equality, which is the foundation of China-Guyana mutual trust, Mutual Benefit and Joint Development, which is the goal of China-Guyana cooperation, and Mutual Understanding and Support, which is the tradition of China-Guyana friendship. She noted that while human society is facing unprecedented challenges, President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, contributing Chinese solutions to promote peace and development in the world. China is willing to work with Guyana, under the leadership of the two heads of state, to take the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to deepen mutual political trust, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, enhance exchanges and mutual understanding, so as to jointly promote genuine multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, and make new contributions to the peace and development of the world.

H.E. President Ali said he is delighted to celebrate this significant milestone in relations between Guyana and China. Guyana took the decision to establish formal diplomatic ties with China on 27th June, 1972, achieving the distinction of becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean Country to recognize the PRC. Relations between Guyana and China are based on the principles of United Nations Charter, on our shared ties of blood and history, on pursuit of fraternal relations and common interest. The relations are underscored by One China Policy. The two countries’ cooperation has straddled almost all areas of national development, including agriculture, culture, defence cooperation, education, health, information communication technology, infrastructure development, private investment, security, sport, trade and transportation. H.E. President Ali expressed sincere appreciation for the invaluable contribution which China has made to Guyana’s national development, the evidence of which is available all across Guyana to be seen. Both countries subscribe to the belief of multilateralism and have continued to collaborate in international forums, including the China-Caribbean consultations, the CELAC-China Forum, the Caribbean-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, the United Nations, the G77 and China, and the World Trade Organization. 50 years of relations have laid the foundation for 50 more years of sustained friendship. Guyana looks forward to working with China in transforming the two countries and making the world a better place.

At the ceremony, the Guyanese side released a commemorative stamp for the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Guyana, and Hon. Prime Minister Phillips, on behalf of Guyana, presented it as a gift to the Chinese side. Ambassador Guo gave Hon. Prime Minister Phillips a commemorative envelop issued by the Chinese side in return.

Wonderful cultural programs were performed at the ceremony.

The guests gathered in a warm and friendly atmosphere to discuss the glorious history of the development of relations between the two countries and the profound friendship between the two peoples, and wished for a brighter future of China-Guyana friendship.