CARICOM–China Trade Nears US$10 Billion As Cooperation Deepens
In 2025, trade volume between China and the 15 CARICOM countries reached US$9.63 billion, a year-on-year increase of nearly 50%.
That’s according to Deputy Head of Mission and Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in T&T, Yang Han, who noted that both CARICOM and China continue to strengthen bilateral ties.
Speaking at an academic symposium on China–Caribbean cooperation on Tuesday, he highlighted the fast-growing partnership.
Reaffirming China’s commitment to friendship and shared progress with the region, he underscored China’s recent assistance of 100 million yuan to Trinidad and Tobago for the construction of a new forensic science centre.
« The two sides are set to launch construction of the new Forensic Science Centre in Trinidad and Tobago. I’m confident that it will become a modern high-tech facility helping Trinidad and Tobago better address the critical challenges of crime. »
He added that a cohort of Caribbean countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative – China’s flagship global infrastructure and economic development strategy – have already benefited from significant national upgrades.
« A host of key cooperation projects, including the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate in Trinidad and Tobago, the Demerara Harbour Bridge in Guyana, and the North-South Highway in Jamaica, have been completed, effectively boosting local economic growth and improving people’s livelihoods. »
The Deputy Head of Mission noted that, regardless of global circumstances, China remains committed to working with Caribbean nations to build an even closer community with a shared future.
Meanwhile, Economist Dr. Indera Sagewan emphasised the potential to strengthen regional tourism by adapting elements of the historic Silk Road model to encourage greater people-to-people exchange.
« China is one of the largest countries in terms of population, and we’re talking about people-to-people, tourism is important in the region. How do we bring more Chinese tourists to the region? A simple one is if we could just bring a tiny percentage of what your travellers are. »
The discussion under the theme “China-Caribbean Cooperation Amid a Changing World” was hosted at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business on Tuesday.
