The U.S. Department of State recently released the so-called 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, making groundless accusations against Belt and Road cooperation projects between China and Guyana and maliciously smearing bilateral economic and trade cooperation. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to these accusations.

Facts speak louder than words. Over the past 54 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Guyana have consistently upheld the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and continued to deepen practical cooperation across various fields. Jointly building the Belt and Road has injected strong impetus into Guyana's economic and social development. Chinese companies have actively participated in Guyana's economic development, created jobs, trained skilled workers, improved people's livelihoods, and made positive contributions to Guyana's modernization.

The Guyanese people are in the best position to judge the outcomes of China-Guyana cooperation. We urge the U.S. to stop politicizing and weaponizing the issue of trafficking in persons, and to stop using its so-called report to interfere with normal cooperation between China and Guyana. China stands ready to work with Guyana to continue advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, and make new and greater contributions to Guyana's economic and social development and the well-being of its people.