The 3rd China–Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, co-sponsored by the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was opened in Port of Spain, the Capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on September 12, 2011. Vice Premier Wang Qishan announced, on behalf of the Chinese government, six measures to strengthen cooperation with the Caribbean countries in the coming three years at the opening ceremony.

1. Strengthen Financial and Investment Cooperation

China will provide US$ 1 billion of soft loan to support economic development in the Caribbean countries, and will encourage exchanges and cooperation between commercial banks of China and the Caribbean countries. China Development Bank will set up a separate commercial loan of US$ 1 billion for cooperation in infrastructure construction in the Caribbean countries. China is happy to negotiate with the Caribbean countries on investment protection agreement, pushing forward two-way investment cooperation. China will also contribute US$ 1 million to the CARICOM Development Fund.

2. Enhance Cooperation in Capacity Building

China will provide scholarships for no less than 2500 trainees and 30 postgraduates to the Caribbean countries. And in order to improve the capacity of the Caribbean countries to combat natural disasters, China will provide support in establishing monitoring and early warning system for earthquake and tsunami as well as training of disaster prevention and mitigation.

3. Strengthen Cooperation in New Energy and Environmental Protection

China will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Caribbean countries in such areas as environmental protection and new energy, and help them to build up small-scale new energy projects, including solar power projects.

4. Strengthen Cooperation in Culture, Education and Public Health

China will assist to build sister school in the Caribbean countries, providing support in Chinese language teaching, teaching staff and text books. China will continue to provide scholarship for students from the Caribbean countries, and is willing to sign agreements on the reciprocal recognition of academic degrees, encouraging to establish sister school relationships between China and the Caribbean countries.

China will also continue to send medical teams to the Caribbean countries, providing training in medical care. China is also willing to strengthen cultural exchanges with the Caribbean countries.

5. Enhance Cooperation in Trade and Tourism

China supports the Caribbean countries to expand export to China, and encourage Caribbean enterprises to participate in major exhibitions, and promote their products in China. China Encourages Chinese enterprises to participate in export exhibitions of the Caribbean countries, expanding purchase from the Caribbean countries. Strengthen cooperation in inspection and quarantine of imports and exports, facilitating trade facilitation. Further promote cooperation and exchange between the chambers of commerce, associations and enterprises of the two sides.

China tourist authorities will strengthen cooperation with their Caribbean counterparts, giving support to the Caribbean tourism sector on holding tourism promotions in China, so as to promote Chinese tourist group in the Caribbean region.

6. Strengthen Agricultural and Fishery Cooperation

China will continue to send agricultural experts to the Caribbean countries to run agriculture and fishery demonstration projects. A Joint Proposal for Agricultural and Fishery Cooperation has been signed by Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Agriculture of the Caribbean countries, and a working group for agricultural and fishery cooperation will be established to promote cooperation in processing and trade of agricultural products, investment in agriculture and fishery industry, human resources capacity building and science and technology research for agriculture industry.