‘Advance modernisation that puts the people first’ – Guyana Chronicle

-Chinese President tells China-Africa Co-operation Summit
-more funding; some one million jobs for African countries; zero-tariff treatment for LDCs among commitments made

By Trina Williams in Beijing, China

CHINA has intensified its efforts to promote global modernisation and has promised to lend a helping hand to Africa in several areas such as creating at least one million jobs, Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced.

Citizens are one of the main drivers of development and President Xi has recognised that modernisation should be pursued through a people-centred vision.

“We should jointly advance modernisation that puts the people first,” was the call made by China’s President at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, which was hosted from September 4-6 in Beijing, China.

During his keynote address, President Xi highlighted how collaboration between China and Africa can bring forth a new chapter, mirrored by a bright future for all.

As the Chinese President firmly affirmed that “modernisation is an inalienable right of all countries,” he emphasised how modernisation should be approached in order to drive a prosperous, shared future for mankind.

First, he made the call for just and equitable modernisation and said that countries must act in the light of national realities and not general rules.

He also said that modernisation which is “open and win-win,” should be pursued.

“Mutually beneficial co-operation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen co-operation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road co-operation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative,” President Xi said.
Adding to this, he said modernisation featuring diversity and inclusiveness should also be jointly advanced as, according to him, well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernisation.

Furthermore, he called for modernisation that is eco-friendly and said that green development is a hallmark of this in the new era.

On that note, he proposed 10 partnership actions for modernisation, which will not only bring forth economic vitality for Africa, but also improve people’s livelihoods.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

In a bid to promote the partnership action for trade prosperity, President Xi said that China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider.

He announced: “We have decided to give all LDCs (least developed countries) having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step. It will help turn China’s big market into Africa’s big opportunity.”

He said that China will expand market access for African agricultural produce, deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas, and launch a “China-Africa quality enhancement programme.”

“We are prepared to enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantees for trade and investment between the two sides,” the Chinese President added.

More so, President XI had announced that China will provide Africa with RMB1 billion yuan in emergency food assistance, build about 6,670 hectares of standardised agricultural demonstration areas in Africa, send 500 agricultural experts, and establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance, among other initiatives, that will enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs.
EMULATING THE VISION

But, how could Guyana and the wider Caribbean Region emulate the vision laid out during this summit?

During President Xi’s 10 partnership actions, he outlined massive plans within the agriculture and energy sectors.

Today, the world is facing devastating effects owing to climate change and arguably, it is one of the most serious issues since the challenges surrounding it are being deeply discussed on the international stage.

The major ramifications caused by climate change are not only impacting food production, but also the eco-system and security, etc.

However, the transformation that Guyana has undergone has resulted in the country making a quantum leap in food, climate and energy security.

Guyana, especially on the international stage, has placed special emphasis on these three critical areas and highlighted its initiatives that are being advanced to address the issues surrounding them.

In this major plan, Guyana has not left out its Caribbean Community (CARICOM) brother and sister member states as the country’s accelerated development is providing a beacon of hope for the entire community.

In the Caribbean, more focus has been placed on the agricultural sector, as it is now recognised as the backbone of many economies.

Vision ‘25 by 2025’ is an example of the region’s strong commitment to addressing food insecurity.

Notably, CARICOM had outlined several initiatives over the past years to reduce its mammoth US$6 billion food-import bill.

The aim is to slash this expenditure by 25 per cent by the year 2025.
Aside from this, the Guyana government has rolled out a series of incentives to foster growth within the agricultural sector. Take for example the construction of farm-to-market roads and removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity and water.

Added to this, earlier this year, Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali said that by the first quarter of 2025, Guyana is anticipated to reduce its import expenditure on aquaculture feed by 50 per cent.

Also, in a bid to not only meet its local demand but also CARICOM’s, Guyana has ramped up its local production of corn and soya bean.

On the side of climate security, Guyana has made a name for itself on the international and regional stage, as the country stands out as a leader in environmental stewardship.

In 2009, Guyana became the first developing nation to introduce the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The strategy delineated a vision for the promotion of fair and sustainable development, while simultaneously safeguarding the nation’s forests, which constitute approximately 85 per cent of its total land area.

Aside from this pioneering initiative, senior Guyanese government officials have used their platform to advocate for sustainable development, especially as climate change continues to send global shock waves, rocking, particularly, fragile states.

In March, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, had asserted that Guyana needs to keep up with the global shift towards a greater usage of renewable energy sources.

Guyana, at that time, had 200 electric vehicles (EVs) with six charging stations, and he anticipated that figure would rise to over 1,000 by 2025.

However, aside from the advocacy, the Guyana Government has cemented this green-energy vision by making all imports of electric vehicles tax-free and duty free.
There is also a 50 per cent annual write-down allowance for businesses investing in environmentally friendly vehicles.

Furthermore, with the global demand for energy increasing, there has been a pressing concern surrounding energy security.

Whether it is because of economic expansion or population growth, governments across the globe have been seeking energy resources to meet the growing needs.

As it relates to energy security, Guyana has been picking up momentum within this vital area.

Take for example Guyana’s gas-to-energy project. This involves the development and utilisation of natural-gas resources for domestic power generation, as well as other industrial and commercial uses.

The project is part of Guyana’s efforts to tap into its significant offshore natural gas reserves and maximise the benefits for the country and its people.

It is expected to provide a reliable and cost-effective source of energy for Guyana, reducing the country’s dependence on imported fuels and contributing to economic growth.

The energy project also has the potential to create new jobs and opportunities for the people of Guyana, particularly in the energy sector. Additionally, the use of natural gas for power generation is expected to help reduce Guyana’s carbon footprint, contributing to a cleaner environment and helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Overall, the gas-to-energy project has the potential to bring significant benefits to the country and its people, helping to drive economic growth, improve energy security, and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Guyana.

Also, earlier this year, the government signed a US $8.6 million contract for the establishment of a national control centre, which is a key component of the project.
Power China Caribbean has been awarded the contract, and the completion of the centre is anticipated within 384 days.