He also gave the assurance, while speaking at a banquet held at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown Tuesday night in honour of the visiting State Councillor of China Madame Wu Yi, that Guyana remains committed to working with the Government of China in the furtherance of global peace and human development.

"Your resourceful nation has made expertise available for the acceleration of our agricultural sector; the development of our textile industry; in the field of medicine; hydropower generation; fisheries; in the birth of the clay-brick industry and through many other forms of technical cooperation," President Jagdeo said.

In this regard, he told Madmane Wu, in response to a toast at the banquet, that Guyana "remains sincerely appreciative of the assistance received in these various sectors".

"I believe that your country's offer to provide the assistance for the construction of a modern convention centre, when completed, will be a monument to the bond of friendship between our two countries," he assured.

Mr. Jagdeo said this form of support is in keeping with the People's Republic of China's commitment to the principles of the Group of 77 and to the cause of South-South Cooperation.

Madame Wu and her 39-member delegation yesterday completed an official two-day visit to Guyana where they met President Jagdeo and several Government ministers and signed several agreements aimed at enhancing economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

On Tuesday, the Chinese signed four agreements with the Guyana Government, one of which entails debt relief worth about US$20M.

According to President Jagdeo, the signing of these agreements is continuing affirmation of China's commitment to aid developing countries.

"My country is particularly appreciative of the assistance granted in the form of debt relief (since) this will allow my Government to redirect resources to the constant and continuing battle to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of our people," he told Madame Wu, in the presence of senior officials of both the governments of Guyana and China, members of the Diplomatic Community and special invitees to the banquet hosted by Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Song Tao.

He said, too, that Guyana applauds the continued engagement of China with the Caribbean.

"The recently concluded inaugural meeting for consultations between the Foreign Minister of China and his Caribbean counterparts highlights the importance your government places on its relations with our region and the developing world as a whole.

"Guyana is pleased to have been a part of this meeting and remains committed to working with the Government of China in the furtherance of global peace and human development," the President assured.

The Guyanese Head of State also took the opportunity to "commend the astute leadership of China on your country's successful bid to host the World Expo 2010 which Guyana was pleased to support".

He noted that Guyana has been consistent in its support for the `One China' policy and reassured Madame Wu of his Government's unwavering and continuing support for this principle.

Ambassador Tao said Madame Wu expressed her gratitude to President Jagdeo and his Government for the warm welcome the delegation received during the visit to Guyana.

Mr. Jin Huibao, Third Secretary in the Chinese Embassy in Guyana also told the Chronicle yesterday that Madame Wu acknowledged the existing friendly relations between China and Guyana and hoped that this bond of friendship would only become stronger in the coming years.

Huibao also indicated that Madame Wu invited President Jagdeo to visit China this year.

"I am pleased to acknowledge your gracious remarks, Madame Wu, and to accept the cordial sentiments which you have expressed. I interpret them as reflective of the enduring fraternal relations between my country and the Government and people of the People's Republic of China," President Jagdeo responded.

"It will be my honour to visit the People's Republic of China towards the end of the first quarter of the new year and I am especially looking forward to meeting the leaders of your country in our search for new areas of cooperation," he said.

The President also proposed a toast to Madame Wu "to the good health of the leaders of the People's Republic of China; to the further strengthening of the bonds of friendship between our two countries; and to the prosperity of your esteemed people."

"It is to the credit of our nations that preceding structural global changes, and long before the economic dynamism of China had become apparent, we had established, nurtured and expressed a relationship founded on mutual respect and fortified by robust engagements at the political, diplomatic, economic and cultural levels," he said.

He said that happily, Guyana has the distinction of displaying the global foresight and political will necessary for establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China 30 years ago.

"Let me concede that besides political and economic considerations, the establishment of friendly relations with your country was a natural and logical development propelled by the fact that 150 years previously the first set of Chinese immigrants made Guyana their home. They bequeathed a cultural legacy which today is woven into the social tapestry of our nation," the Guyanese Head of State said.

"Madame Wu, today we are able to identify examples of cooperation and point to mutually satisfying accomplishments. Beyond the friendship and cooperation which characterise our relations, our mutual desire to play our part in the fashioning of a just, equitable and peaceful world system has expanded our collaboration and further cemented Guyana/China relations," President Jagdeo said.