By Alirio Polsbroek

PARAMARIBO, April 26, 2024 – When the Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi returned  from a week-long state visit to the People’s Republic of China on April 20, 2024, it was clear that during this visit the two countries tightened the knots to an unbreakable point. It is also clear that President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative has the admiration of Suriname. President Santokhi put this admiration into words, saying upon his return to the Surinamese media: “the Belt and Road Initiative is one that plays a very important role in bringing development for a lot of nations and people and we are making good use of it and we (Suriname) benefit from the BRI”. 

On behalf of the Surinamese nation, the president, made it clear in China during his visit, that the BRI helps to boost connectivity in the region and that it is also transforming Suriname into an economic hub in South America. President Santokhi mentioned two projects to elaborate. He referred, for example, to roads built in Suriname under the Belt and Road Initiative, which help villagers in remote areas and he also referred to the hospitals that played an important role in  controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Timeline of how Suriname ‘belted’ the new Silk Road 

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-Suriname strategic cooperative partnership, which was established in 2019. In May 2018, China and Suriname agreed to deepen their pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and during a meeting in September of that same year, this was reconfirmed in Paramaribo between former Surinamese President Desiré Bouterse and visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. At that meeting Wang said that “China appreciates Suriname’s support and participation in the co-building of the Belt and Road”. He also emphasized  that both sides should promote the all-round development of bilateral ties on the basis of consolidating political mutual trust driven by the co-building of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Surinamese President Desiré Bouterse (1st R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi(1st L) in Paramaribo, Suriname on September 23, 2018. Both sides pledging to enhance ties between the two countries. (Xinhua/Cui Yuanlei)

Bouterse in return said :“the Surinamese government is committed to deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation in infrastructure construction, tourism, cultural exchanges and other fields, and will continue to actively support and participate in the Belt and Road construction”.

In November 2019, Suriname and China signed the cooperation plan in Beijing, to jointly advance the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Suriname sees the joint construction of the BRI as an opportunity to upgrade bilateral strategic relations. “Suriname stands ready to work with China to safeguard multilateralism, international law, and basic norms of international cooperation relations”, President Desiré Bouterse said to the Chinese people and President Xi Jinping at this historical event.

President Desiré Bouterse and President Xi Jinping meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 27 November 2019. At this meeting Xi said: “The development of bilateral ties is in an important historical period, and China is willing to work with Suriname to take the opportunity of the Belt and Road cooperation to uplift the ties to new heights”. (Xinhua)

Bouterse’s successor, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, underlined this agreement last month, to his excellency President Xi by saying: “China’s BRI helped turn my country into a key hub in South America”. These words emphasize the importance of the initiative for Suriname and are a pledge, that no matter which person holds office of President to Suriname, continuation of BRI in Suriname is insured. No smear campaigns against the Belt and Road Initiative by others, will have a negative impact on the way Suriname has embraced BRI, and the way Suriname believes the important role BRI will play in the development of the country and the rest of the world.

 President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and President Xi Jinping meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 12 April 2024. At this meeting Xi said:“ China welcomes more high-quality and distinctive Surinamese products to enter the Chinese market, and stands ready to deepen cooperation with Suriname on joint Belt and Road construction”. (Xinhua)

Why Suriname ‘belted’ the new Silk Road 

Surinamese analysts agree that over the last four years, closer ties with China have effectively changed Suriname’s economy and that Beijing has bolstered its commitment to the country with a comprehensive shared development scheme that goes beyond trade, finance, and the economy. It sets the foundation for great development, thanks to China’s proposed win-win ties of cooperation. China has become a partner of Suriname and vice versa. It is proven that close China-Suriname ties have turned into tangible projects in the areas of infrastructure, services, and transportation and led to safer and more reliable financing schemes. For example; just two weeks ago, China remitted debts of Suriname dating back before 2013, according to the Surinamese minister of Foreign Affairs, Albert Ramdin.

China has been a major contributor to Suriname’s development goals since The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Suriname formally established diplomatic relations on May 28, 1976, and continues to do so. The Chinese government has provided millions of US dollars in humanitarian emergency aid to Suriname, and hundreds of machineries for agricultural and construction purposes have also been donated. A hospital and different sports facilities are just some of the projects that can be mentioned as part of a long list. 

With the help of China, Suriname’s weak economy has the possibility to grow strong if the cards are played right. There is proof that the geo-economic and geopolitical center of world power is shifting away from the Atlantic, which was controlled by Western nations and marked by the North-South inequality. The emerging “multilateralism” between China and Suriname, will lead to greater equality in international relations and greater balance between the different regions.

China has been the great ‘powerhouse’ when it comes to providing financial aid to Suriname, with more than 600 million American dollars in loans over the past years alone. Thanks to the BRI, help is not only provided in the form of money but also in the form of  policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and the people-to-people bond.  These are the five priorities of this initiative as stipulated by President Xi Jinping at the unveiling of his idea in 2013.

Why this special bond between China and Suriname? 

On historical level. Where does this ‘love affair’ between these two nations originate from? These two countries are literally on the opposite sides of the globe. How come their ties are so strong?

First of all, when we look at Suriname’s  history we see that it has welcomed Chinese immigrants with open arms for the past 170 years. And, even to this day, Suriname keeps welcoming new immigrants from China. That’s why Suriname has one of the biggest Chinese communities in the Caribbean. There is no part of the country where you will not find a Chinese family or descendants, living their daily lives. 

On cultural level. The Chinese influence has been a part of Suriname’s identity since as early as in 1853 when the first Chinese laborers came all the way to the country.

Over the past 170 years, they and those who came after them and all their descendants have found themselves a new home, working hard to integrate into the local community and contributing to Suriname’s economic development and cultural diversity. That’s why the People’s Republic of China has invested in cultural enhancement programs between the two countries. Cultural events organized by the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Suriname are very well attended and appreciated by a fast Surinamese audience. These activities enhance Suriname’s diversified culture. Organizing a steady stream of cultural events keeps the Chinese part of the Surinamese culture alive and enriches it.

Because of the acceptance of the Chinese culture, Suriname is the first country in the Western Hemisphere to designate the Chinese Spring Festival as an official national holiday. The Chinese Culture is incorporated into Suriname in such a way, that it is impossible not to acknowledge that there is more between these two countries than just friendship. 

On political level. The bond between the two countries has grown from being historical and cultural partners, to diplomatic one-minded nations. Suriname has constantly adhered to the one-China policy and has respected China’s core interests since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 40 years ago.

On the 12th of April 2024, President Santokhi, once again, ensured the Surinamese point of view in a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. “Suriname firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China’s efforts to promote national reunification”, he said, expressing hopes of working with China to implement global initiatives. China in turn expressed its support to Suriname in safeguarding national sovereignty and independence and in following a development path suited to its national conditions. Premier Li pointed out that China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Suriname in the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, better respond to climate change and other global challenges, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Two bonded nations

It is clear that the ties between the two nations is much more than just politically-, economically-, diplomatically- or culturally motivated . It is a historical bond that started 170 years ago when the first group of Chinese immigrants came to the country. It got a jumpstart more than 40 years ago with the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations. And since 2013, the relation has taken to the skies with opportunities that are based on bonds, that go beyond friendship under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.  Suriname has firmly and fondly embraced the Belt and Road Initiative.

SOURCES: People’s Daily
                     Communication Unit of The Surinamese President(CDS)
                     Belt and Road Portal
                     Xinhua news agency
                     Times of Suriname archives

CARACAS – The 23rd summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) opened here last Wednesday with its agenda focusing on a roadmap for 2030.
“We have received an extraordinary proposal with seven lines of action, which we have called the ALBA 2030 Agenda,” containing “great goals” for the immediate, short and medium terms till “2030 or beyond,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who presided over the event.
Founded in 2004, the ALBA-TCP bloc currently groups 10 countries with the aim of reducing Latin America’s reliance on Western aid by promoting intra-regional alliances and cooperation in key sectors such as energy and trade.
Member countries have made progress in debating the goals, Maduro said, voicing confidence that a draft of the agenda will be approved as a roadmap.
According to Maduro, the top objective is the creation of an ALBA-TCP cooperation and development agency to attract the resources to promote development projects. And the second line of action aims to relaunch Petrocaribe, a regional oil procurement agreement between Venezuela and Caribbean member states.
“Petrocaribe is recovering, relaunching itself and will return,” Maduro said.
Maduro, who welcomed the ALBA heads of state and government at the Miraflores Palace, described Wednesday’s gathering as “one of the best meetings.” (Xinhua)…[+]

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Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the two countries have focused on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and on building an even closer China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.
China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to provide firm mutual support, advance practical cooperation, enhance the friendship between the two peoples, and enrich the permanent China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said, adding that the CPPCC National Committee is ready to contribute to these ends.
Koshanov offered his congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, expressing support for China’s core interests and major concerns.
The Kazakh parliament will contribute to advancing bilateral relations and the friendship between the two peoples, Koshanov said. (Xinhua)…[+]

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This was reemphasised this afternoon by the Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works, during a planned meeting with the vendors at the seawall. Minister Edghill said any misinformation that the government was removing vendors is clear mischief-making.
“What we are doing is to ensure that everybody who got a license, your license [would have] told you, or your letter of permit [told you] the conditions under which you must vend and those conditions must be upheld.”
Minister Edghill listed those conditions as no permanent structures, the vending space should be no more than 100 Square feet, mobile vending carts must be fifteen feet from the edge of the road, vendors must clean up their area after vending, and whatever is set up when vending must be aesthetically sound and lending to the beautification of the environment.”
The Minister also made it clear that the removal exercise was not sudden, but in fact over a period and with proper notification to the vendors.
“Anybody who is trying to tell you that this is a now, yesterday for today exercise is fooling the nation, and [so far] we have removed more than 20 pit latrines from this seawall, secondly people have gone far beyond what their license told them and are putting down concrete structures, and containers on bases.”
Minister Edghill said persons have also vended in areas not designated for vending, like between the Kitty roundabout and the monument. These persons have since been removed and will be accommodated in the properly designated vending area west of the monument.
“You would have seen that we would have already cleared that area, because of what was transpiring we could not have allowed it to continue. I just drove there and you could see the concrete foundations remaining after we moved those persons. So, even though they were moved from between the roundabout and the monument, arrangements were being put in place for them to fit in [with the other vendors west of the monument] so that they would not be left out of business as well,” Minister Edghill noted.
He urges persons to be reasonable and rational as the Sea and River Defense reserve they use temporarily for vending, must be easily accessible in the event of an emergency.
Minister Edghill said the PPP/C government is not in the business of displacing anyone nor in the business of taking bread out of their mouths. But rules are in place for a reason and all of us, regardless of who we are must adhere to these. (INewsGuyana)…[+]

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Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony noted the country’s commendable performance in general child immunisation, achieving coverage rates between 98 to 100 per cent.
However, there remains a challenge in administering the HPV vaccine, with only 40 per cent of children aged nine to 15 receiving the jab.
“We want to take this up to close to 90 per cent and therefore we still have a lot of work to do,” Dr Anthony told the Department of Public Information (DPI) during a recent interview.
“It’s important because if you get the HPV vaccine it can prevent cervical cancer and for boys, because we are doing it for both boys and girls, it can prevent other types of genital cancers,” Dr Anthony stated.
The health minister announced that the vaccine is now available to women up to 45 years old. Women aged 16 to 25 require two doses, while those aged 26 to 45 require three.
Emphasising the vaccine’s role in cervical cancer prevention, Dr Anthony outlined countries with high vaccination rates experiencing a notable decline in cervical cancer cases.
“So, by getting this vaccine you can prevent yourself from getting cervical cancer and possibly dying from cervical cancer, so we can change this with a vaccine that is widely available and it is free of cost. The government is providing it,” Dr Anthony underscored.
Guyana boasts impressive coverage rates across various vaccines, including injections for pregnant women.
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