Hainan to host China-Caribbean ministerial conference

China will hold the Ministerial Conference of the fourth China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Qionghai, Hainan province, from Sept 12 to 14, with government delegations of China and 11 Caribbean states attending the event, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

The conference, focusing on themes such as technological innovation, digital economy and green development, aims to showcase China's determination to continuously deepen reform and expand opening-up, and further promote economic and trade exchanges between China and Caribbean countries, the ministry said.

Officials and representatives from Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Bahamas, Cuba, Guyana and Jamaica will participate in the conference, which will include ministerial meetings and dialogue sessions between Caribbean and Chinese enterprises.

"China is willing to work with Caribbean countries to further expand the trade scale, and we welcome more high-quality products from the Caribbean countries to enter the Chinese market," said Meng Yue, an official of the department of foreign trade at the ministry.

"Chinese companies are also willing to provide high-quality products for the Caribbean states and further promote trade between the two sides," Meng said.

Between 2018 and 2023, the average annual growth rate of trade value between China and Caribbean states reached 10.2 percent, and the trade value came in at $11.8 billion last year, indicating the resilience and vitality of trade growth between the two sides, the ministry said.

China has been investing in agricultural processing, manufacturing and commerce sectors in the Caribbean states. Besides, premium products of Caribbean countries, including rum from Barbados and coffee beans from Jamaica, entered the China market through e-commerce platforms and fairs such as the China International Import Expo.

Meanwhile, Hainan stands as China's sole tropical island province, and its leading industries such as tropical agriculture and tourism have been highly compatible with major industries of the Caribbean states. As Hainan continues to build itself into a free trade port, there are a lot of cooperation opportunities between Hainan and the Caribbean states, said the local government.