From September 1-14, 2007, the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) had a unique opportunity to be hosted by the Chinese Government and CCTV as they traveled to China on a fact-finding mission to document the relations between China and the Caribbean and Africa.
The "Project China" team - Nsombi Jaja, Dr. Claire Nelson, Rosie "Peppy" Parke, and Roan Ross were constantly awed as they became educated and informed about the Chinese lifestyle, language, and culture. It was fascinating to meet and interview Caribbean and African nationals and document their experiences living in the largest and most populous country.

For two weeks, CCTV tour guides Gu Liuqi and Liu Wei escorted the team around two of China's busiest cities - Beijing and Shanghai where the group met with and interviewed ambassadors, government officials, professors, students, and professionals. On off days, the group got the chance to enjoy the beauty of the country and visited The Great Wall, Bei Hei Park, Tiananmen Square, Wang Fu Jing, The Temple of Heavens, Shanghai Arts and Crafts Market, and a tea village!
Six Caribbean countries have embassies in China: Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Suriname. During the two week visit, the team was able to visit with Ambassador Wayne McCook, Jamaica's Ambassador to China and Cecil Pollydore, Guyana's Charge D'Affaires to China, and gather information on the diplomatic relationship between China and these two countries. Both Jamaica and Guyana's diplomatic relationships with China span over 30 years and the Caribbean is benefiting from a $142 billion investment by China with over 18,000 active projects from the Caribbean in China. China's export to Jamaica alone is $180,000 million and Jamaica's main export to China is aluminium.

 

Ethiopian Ambassador Extraordinaire to China, Haile-Kiros Gessesse provided the group with valuable information on diplomatic and trading relations with China for over 37 years. A number of students from Ethiopia and other African countries are attending colleges in China on scholarship and China has promised to train 15,000 Ethiopian students in 3 years and have a medical team in Ethiopia training nationals in various sectors. The Chinese has donated a beautiful OAU HQ building to Ethiopia which costs $150,000,000 with a completion date of 2010. Of course, Ethiopia is also making good of their relationship with China, and with a country whose mainstream economy consists of 85% agriculture, Ethiopian Airlines flies to China 14 times per week and the Ethiopians export coffee beans, leather, and other unique and much needed products to China.

 

While in China, the team was privileged to visit a number of Universities and educational institutes including Shanghai's #1 and China's #4 ranked, Fudan University. Tongji University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Second Language University, and Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences were also toured and one of the amazing things the group learned is that it is very easy for a Caribbean or African student to quality for a full scholarship to one of China's Universities. Students will receive a round trip ticket from their home country, live rent-free, and receive a stipend ranging from $800-$1200 RPM per month depending on the course of study.

The Caribbean and African students in China, though few, are making great strides and the team met with and interviewed students from Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Dominica, Sudan, Niger, Kenya, Benin, and Liberia. Like most educational institutions, a University education in China is challenging but with the daunting task of learning the Chinese language, the students have their work cut out for them as learning the Chinese language is no easy task and it not rare to find persons who speak the language but are unable to write it.

 

 

One particular group that is making headway and putting the Caribbean stamp in China is the Caribbean Association of China (CAC) led by Jamaican, Dr. Nicoleen Johnson. The group was formed less than a year ago and already has 13 members who are professionals dedicated to creating a Caribbean presence and making a significant difference in China. Speaking with these professionals who for the most part received some part of their education in China, there is no doubt that China will never be the same after the CAC spreads their wings even wider.