CHINA - CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC AND TRADE COOPERATION FORUM

2^ND TO 5^TH FEBRUARY 2005, KINGSTON, JAMAICA

November 25, 2004

A Press Conference was held today, Thursday, 25^th November, 2004, at 12:00 noon at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel to announce the China - Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum to be held in Kingston Jamaica from 2^nd to 5^th February 2005. 

The Chinese government, in its quest to further enhance economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with the Caribbean, has proposed the establishment of the China – Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum. The proposal has been well received by Caribbean states, and, as a result, the first Forum will be staged from 2^nd – 5^th February 2005, in Kingston, Jamaica, under the theme, Promoting Cooperation and Common Development.  Supportive events of the Forum will include a China-Caribbean Business Conference, Business Networking and a Trade Fair. 

The China - Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum will convene every 3 - 4 years in China or a Caribbean state. The Forum aims to promote and deepen the economic exchanges and cooperation to realize the common development between China and the Caribbean region. Participants of the Forum include senior officials from the Chinese and the Caribbean government, trade and investment promotion agencies and entrepreneurs.

The Hon. Leslie Miller, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Ni Boheng, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, and Mr. Franklyn Wilson, Chairman of the Bahamas Chapter of the World Presidents Organization, were the speakers at the event, outlining the vast opportunities open to Bahamian businessmen as a result of the emergence of China as a major global economic power.  Government officials, entrepreneurs, and Corporate Bahamas were in attendance.    

Further information may be obtained from the Forum’s official website: http://www.cncforumenglish.mofcom.gov.cn