Expand Your Horizons: Professional Seminars in China
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Barbados, in collaboration with several Chinese organizations, is inviting professionals in Barbados to participate in a series of international seminars designed to promote professional development, knowledge exchange, and cultural understanding.
Featured Seminar Areas
What Participants Can Expect
Upcoming Seminar Dates: The final seminars for 2026 will be held in November.
Contact Information
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Barbados
Telephone: (246) 435-6890
Email: BB@mofcom.gov.cn
Hong Kong has been ranked the world’s freest economy for the third consecutive year, and for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Despite the almost unbroken grip on the coveted ranking by the Fraser Institute, a top Canadian think tank, it is not to be taken for granted. The Hong Kong government sets great store by continued recognition of the city’s economic freedom because it is fundamental to its competitiveness.
Why Asian parents are trapped in a private tuition arms race | South China Morning Post
Grace often hears other Singapore mothers debating how much private tuition their children need. Some rush to enrol their offspring in multiple classes before they turn five, while others try to resist the pressure to add lessons outside school.
She enrolled her two children, now aged four and seven, in Chinese tuition when they were three to give them greater exposure to their ancestral tongue.
“Neither of their parents speaks fluent Mandarin at home … I guess there is some degree of pressure involved too,” said Grace, 38, the founder of a creative agency.
Author Event - The Fragile Dragon, October 29th, 2026 - 2:00 p.m.. CT
Summary
The Fragile Dragon offers a clear-eyed examination of China’s rise and its hidden vulnerabilities.
Drawing on the author’s experience as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai under Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden, the book analyzes key business and political developments from both Western and Chinese perspectives.
The narrative intertwines the story of his family -- including an opium addict, an American codebreaker, and a Chinese revolutionary -- with broader geopolitical themes. As an American businessman of Chinese ancestry, the author had extraordinary access to leaders on both sides, giving him remarkable insight into why tensions between the US and China have escalated so sharply, threatening global commerce and stability.
Finally, Mr. Gibbs offers guidance on how business people can think about China and what it takes to succeed, whether it’s navigating the narrow corridor between what China wants and what the US will allow, partnering with rather than competing against local players, or structuring businesses to minimize risk if a catastrophic event takes place, as appears more and more likely.
China’s central bank details its view on RMB’s exchange rate
Apparently responding to international pressure, the People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, on October 8 took the rare step of publishing a dedicated article laying out its official stance on RMB exchange rate policy,
China adopts a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. This regime has the following features:
First, market forces play a decisive role in determining the exchange rate. After years of development, a fully functional multi-tiered foreign exchange (FX) market has gradually taken shape in China, with growing market depth and breadth. Market participants take part in FX trading based on commercial considerations and their own judgment. Market supply and demand plays a decisive role in determining the RMB exchange rate….
Second, the focus is laid upon preventing short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate from undermining financial stability, in particular sharp depreciation within a short time.
Recent videos from Joshua in China
Talking to Chinese Kids in Chinese CN | Golden Week in Shenzhen
During Golden Week in Shenzhen, I ended up chatting with two Chinese kids and decided to turn the camera on. We talked about where they’re from, what they like, mooncakes and Mid-Autumn Festival, and then they flipped things around and started asking me questions about English, Chinese and my own language-learning experience. There was even one question in Chinese that I definitely did NOT understand properly I answered somewhere in the general neighbourhood of what they were asking, though, so we survived
They Put Me on Stage in China… So I Gave the Whole Talk in Chinese
This time, I was invited to take part in a talk show at a foreign language school in Shenzhen as part of their first “class” of the year — although calling this thing a class might be underselling it a little. There were singers, plays, professional hosts, people doing backflips, kids dancing like robots… and an ACTUAL dancing robot. Then it was my turn.
This weekly newsletter is put together by DeLisle Worrell, President of the ABCF. Visit us at Association for Barbados China Friendship | (abcf-bb.com).
I include news of the association and our members, as well as interesting items of news and a variety of commentary that you might not find elsewhere.
Thanks to everyone who sent contributions for this week’s Update. Please send items of interest to me via the contact page at ABCF-BB.com or to info@DeLisleWorrell.com
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.
