A report of the September 2018 Confucius Lecture, at UWI, Cave Hill, St Michael, Barbados, given by Dr. Chelston Brathwaite, former Barbados Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
A TREASURED exhibit in the Barbados embassy in Beijing, China is the front page of a 2015 issue of the People's Daily, the best-known English language daily in China, featuring the world-famous yellow gown worn by Rihanna at the Met Ball in New York City that year.
In his lecture at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill on the occasion of Confucius Day, Dr Chelston Brathwaite, Barbados' former ambassador to China, told us that Rihanna is the best-known Barbadian in China. He also showed video clips of the Mighty Gabby and other Barbadian artistes performing in Beijing.
Dr Brathwaite cited these instances of cultural links that have already begun to be formed between Barbados and China. In his words "these initiatives... are the foundation of... a more profound and comprehensive partnership" that needs to be developed between our countries.
Dr Brathwaite cites reasons for building stronger ties with China, beginning with the fact that the countries of the Far East, China most prominently, contribute a large and increasing share of the world's production and income. China provides more finance to developing countries than the World Bank does; China is the world's processing centre and manufacturing capital; it is a major importer of most agricultural and mineral commodities.
China’s foreign policy stresses peaceful coexistence among sovereign nations, peaceful advancement of developing countries, strategies that provide benefits for all countries, and the promotion of a common destiny for mankind. China has openly declared its support for environmental protection, food safety and security and the fight against terrorism.
Dr Brathwaite pointed out that China's economic model is characterised by six elements that contribute to its success: strong and decisive leadership, very long-term planning, an effective and enviable work ethic, the cohesion and stability of Chinese society, rapid development of education, science, technology and innovation, and commitment to national renewal.
China's outstanding economic achievements are a strong recommendation to borrow from its experience. Dr Brathwaite reminded us of some of the landmarks of China's progress: in 2011 it became the world's second largest economy; it holds the world's largest reserve of foreign reserves; China has the world's largest high-speed rail network; and 529 million Chinese have been raised out of poverty in the last 30 years.
INVESTMENT ON THE BELT & ROAD
China has launched the largest global development initiative of the 21st century with the Belt and Road Initiative, a modern re-imagining and extension of the ancient Silk Road. Chinese companies have already invested US$50 billion along the Belt and Road corridors.
Outlining the opportunities which China offers the Caribbean, Dr Brathwaite said "If the international financial sector is an important part of your economy, you should be interested in the 2.3 million millionnaires and the 358 billionnaires in China; if tourism is your business, you should be interested in the 100 million Chinese tourists that are travelling around the world spending US$102 billion per year; if you are selling products in the international market, you should be interested in the 500 million middle-class consumers in China; and if you are interested in incorporating technology into your development process and poverty reduction, you should look at the Chinese model.".
China has expressed interest in strengthening and deepening relations with Caribbean countries, issuing its first policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean in 2008.
A newly-established Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (the China-CELAC Forum) held its first ministerial meeting in 2015, and a second in January this year. China has set targets for increasing trade and investment with the group by 2025. Three funds have been set up totalling US$35 billion, from which the Caribbean may benefit.
Dr Brathwaite suggests a new international agenda for Barbados, to fulfill the new Government's vision of "helping build the best of Barbados": “Barbados should engage the world, not just the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada and the United States of America. We are clearly underrepresented in our relations with the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
We must establish strategic partnerships and learn from successful countries, including Norway, Chile, Costa Rica, Singapore, New Zealand, Uruguay, Mauritius, Malta and China.” He made a number of other recommendations, among them encouraging young people to become bilingual, in Spanish, Portuguese, French or Mandarin.
Dr Brathwaite sees a more comprehensive mission for the Embassy of Barbados in Beijing. It would have responsibility to promote business opportunities between Barbados and China. It would be the focal point for cooperation with the countries of the wider Asia-Pacific Region including Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, with non-resident representation in these countries. Our embassy could also strengthen Caribbean regional cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in areas of strategic interest to the Caribbean, in addition to the usual diplomatic and consular services. The staffing and organisation of the embassy would be upgraded in line with these objectives.
Dr Brathwaite would also like to see the establishment of a joint venture between the private sectors of China and Barbados. The objectives of the Barbados/China Trade and Investment Council would be to serve as a bilateral platform to enhance private commercial and investment initiatives between Barbados and China, with the support of relevant government institutions.
The Barbados embassy in China and the Chinese embassy in Barbados should be asked to provide leadership and logistic support to this initiative. The Council would help to build trust and confidence between the Chinese and Barbados’ private sector and provide information for Barbadian entrepreneurs on how to do business in China, including business norms, legal requirements, intellectual property rights and distribution channels.
LET BARBADOS LEAD
Dr Brathwaite also recommends that Barbados lead a regional strategy for engagement with China. The opportunities under the China-CELAC Forum remain to be explored. In the recently held China-CELAC meeting in Santiago, Chile in January, 2018, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean expressed support for the Belt and Road Initiative and it is reported that Trinidad and Tobago has signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a partner to the Initiative.
Dr Brathwaite believes that there is room for concrete regional actions to take advantage of the US$3 billion offered to the region by China. The Caribbean should also pursue a free trade agreement with China. Caribbean leaders should support a proposal to establish a Caribbean Trade and Tourism Centre in Tianjin, China, that would be a vehicle to enhance private commercial relations between the Caribbean and China.
Dr Brathwaite concludes that Barbados should pursue the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and work with other Caribbean countries to promote greater cooperation between China and the region.
In doing so, the Caribbean does not need to abandon ties with Canada, England and the United States; rather, the initiative would diversify our international relations with other successful countries of the world. A more strategic partnership with China could be a window of opportunity for Barbados and the Caribbean to assist in the transformation of our economies.
The challenges which Barbados faces today are not insurmountable. We should not dwell on the negatives of the past but embrace a future of hope, prosperity and justice. The time has come to revisit the legacy of our first Prime Minister, the late Right Honourable Errol Walton Barrow and continue to be “friends of all and satellite of none”.
The ABCF mission is to build a deeper understanding between the Chinese people and Barbadians and Caribbean people from all walks of life. The association’s focus is on personal experiences, people-to-people contact, cultural exchanges and exchanges of ideas, and the facilitation of travel, business and study. From the outset we aim to learn from and build on the experiences of the Caribbean and China, and to develop mutual understandings and support that will be to the benefit of both sides.
