China and Guyana celebrate lasting bond during country’s 60th anniversary

China and Guyana reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral friendship and advancing common development as the South American country celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence.

Speaking at a reception marking the anniversary of the country's independence on Friday, Guyanese Ambassador to China Anyin Choo said the enduring friendship between Guyana and China has stood the test of time and their partnership is based on mutual respect, shared sacrifice, and a common vision for development, rather than short-term interests.

"From our early diplomatic ties that withstood the test of history to today's robust collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has remained a trusted partner in building roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals that touch the daily lives of every Guyanese," she said.

Bilateral cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure demonstrates how two nations, though separated by oceans, are united by the conviction that sovereignty, equality, and pragmatic solidarity can benefit all of society, she said.

She said Guyana has transformed itself from an economy heavily dependent on a single crop into a country with diversified agricultural and mineral development, while continuing to uphold sovereign equality as a core principle in international relations.

"Sovereign equality is not an abstract ideal, but a binding norm of international relations that applies equally to every state, regardless of size or military capacity," she said.

Guyana is committed not only to enhancing its own international standing, but also to promoting a more inclusive and rules-based international order in which the voices of small states are heard, their rights respected, and their capacities empowered, she added.

Zhang Run, director-general of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, said, despite the geographical distance, China has consistently supported Guyana's independence and development.

Guyana was the first English-speaking Caribbean country to recognize the one-China principle and establish diplomatic relations with China, while China was among the first countries to recognize Guyana after its independence, according to Zhang.

He noted that bilateral cooperation under the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road has continued to inject fresh momentum into bilateral ties.

Trade value between the two countries reached $2.89 billion in 2025, up 105 percent year-on-year, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Zhang noted that the first group of Chinese immigrants arrived in Guyana in 1853, opening a new chapter in friendly exchanges between the two peoples, and the Chinese community has since grown into one of Guyana's six major ethnic groups.

In recent years, more and more Guyanese have started learning Chinese, visiting China, and experiencing Chinese culture, he added.

Starting from 1993, China has dispatched 21 medical teams to the country, providing treatment to more than 1 million people and rescuing over 30,000 critically ill patients, according to Zhang.

China and Guyana working together to deepen cooperation and pursue common development conforms to the shared interests of both countries as well as common expectations of both peoples, he said.