China to Offer Millions in Loans to CARICOM

Port of Spain, Sep 14. -Millions of dollars in loans, scholarships and environmental collaboration are the focus of agreements signed between China and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.
The two-day meeting, concluded on Tuesday in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, was opened by Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Wang Qishan, who announced that Beijing will provide one billion USD in loans on preferential terms to member countries of CARICOM.

Wang also expressed his country´s willingness to discuss and sign an agreement to protect investments and promote local development.

He said his government will provide one million USD to the Caribbean Development Fund besides offering more than 2,500 scholarships for Caribbeans to do higher studies.

He also showed interest in cooperating in the regional efforts to manage natural disasters and supporting the construction of an early warning system for tsunamis and quakes.

The objectives of CARICOM, founded in 1973 after the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, include commercial integration, joint foreign policy coordination and promotion of cooperation in education, culture and industry.

Full members of CARICOM are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Montserrat and Trinidad and Tobago. (Prensa Latina)