NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas has reiterated its commitment to the One-China policy with Nassau, indicating it has encouraged continued dialogue and support on mutual areas of interest bilaterally and multilaterally with the Asian country.
“Since establishing diplomatic relations between our two countries on May 23, 1997, The Bahamas has continued to express its commitment to the One-China policy and has encouraged continued dialogue and support on mutual areas of interest both bilaterally and multilaterally,” Prime Minister Phillip Davis said.
The One China principle is the position held by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, with the PRC serving as the sole legitimate government of that China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
Prime Minister Davis, speaking at a ceremony to welcome a Chinese delegation headed by the Governor of Hunan Province, Mao Weiming, said that in further demonstrating his country’s commitment to its relationship with China,” we endorsed President Xi Jinping’s Global Development Initiative, also known as the “GDI,” on 28th March this year, via diplomatic channels.
“The GDI was initially announced in 2021 by China’s President Xi Jinping and is purposed to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain on target,” Davis said, noting that there “were and still are ongoing technical exchanges as a result of both of our mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, and we look forward to the continued deepening of our fraternal ties for the many years to come.”
Prime Minister Davis told Governor Mao, on his first official visit to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, that there has been increased engagement between Nassau and Hunan Province through the various exchanges undertaken to date and the provision of donations from Hunan Province.
“In 2015, we saw the beginning of a new friendship with Hunan Province when the Brightness Action Project was launched. This project brought doctors from Hunan Province who provided free operation services for over 200 Bahamian cataract patients.
“Two years ago, we had the honor to sign the Letter of Intent for the Establishment of a Sister Province between Hunan Province and Grand Bahama on the Establishment of Sister Province/Island Relations, along with two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on agricultural cooperation and medical equipment donations.”
Davis said that since then, Hunan Province has continued to display its intent to further engage with The Bahamas by establishing greenhouses, donating agricultural equipment to assist with food resilience plans, and showing its culture through performances by the Hunan Acrobatic Art Theater.
He said that the Brightness Action project has been relaunched, and an MoU has been established between Hunan’s premier University, Central South University (CSU), and the University of The Bahamas, among others.
“These exchanges are representative of the importance of our relationship with Hunan Province and, by extension, the People’s Republic of China,” Davis added.
Meanwhile, Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville welcomed the partnership between the Bahamas and China, resulting in what he described as “life-changing” cataract surgeries performed here.
“… Brightness Action will provide vital surgical interventions to restore eyesight to patients who seek ophthalmology services from the Public Hospitals Authority,” Darville told a news conference.
Under the program, PMH’s ophthalmology department, specialists, and nurses from China will work together to provide free surgeries for clients in the public health system.
“Excellency, cataracts and glaucoma are the leading causes of vision loss in The Bahamas, affecting individuals of all walks of life,” he told the visiting Chinese delegation, adding, “Excellency, our population’s vulnerability to type two diabetes and other chronic noncommunicable diseases highlights the critical need for proactive vision care.
“Through Brightness Action, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of good vision and empower individuals to prioritize their eye health. I commend the eye care professionals’ unwavering dedication in this initiative and express my deep gratitude to all partners and supporters,” the Health and Wellness Minister added.
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