President Bharrat Jagdeo is heading a delegation that includes Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Mr. Clement Rohee, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Navin Chandarpal, Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green and representatives of the private sector on a seven-day visit beginning March 27.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency last week, Minister Rohee and China's Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Song Tao, both expressed confidence that the visit will serve to strengthen relations between the two countries.

On the issue of trade, Minister Rohee said Guyana has been benefiting tremendously from its relationship with China.

He however, noted that the trade flow is weighed more in favour of China and this could be as a result of China's capacity to produce and the price at which China's goods can be exported to this country.

Noting that there are great opportunities for improving the balance of trade more in favour of Guyana, Rohee said the most recent agreement signed with the People's Republic of China about two years ago, helped significantly to improve trade between the two countries.

According to the minister, now that China is a member of the World Trade Organisation, the two countries can engage in trade at the rates set for Most Favoured Nations, and China has also conceded certain goods at preferential rates.

He urged the local private sector to capitalise on these opportunities.

A number of private sector representatives will be travelling to China as part of the Guyana delegation.

According to Rohee, a separate programme has been planned for these representatives which will include meetings with their counterparts in China and site tours of their expressed areas of interest.

Many local businesses have expressed interest in joint ventures with China and these range from the assembling of electronic equipment, refrigeration and air conditioning units to agro-processing.

Guyana's Foreign Trade Minister has noted that while this country produced an abundance of fruits and vegetables, the capacity to can these products for export is lacking.

He pointed to this area as one where Guyana can especially benefit.

This is not the first official visit where local private sector representatives will be accompanying an official delegation.

According to Rohee, it has been the practice of the PPP/C Government to include the private sector to boost foreign trade.

Noting that governments do not engage in trade, he said it is important that the local private sector engage their counterparts to determine what commodities can be sent to China at a beneficial price.

According to Ambassador Song Tao, cooperation in trade has been expanding since the two countries established diplomatic relations more than 30 years ago.

He noted that for last year, trade volume between the two countries was US$17M, an increase of 20 per cent over 2001.

"It is important for Guyana to know that their export to China increased by 68 per cent," the Ambassador said.

Touching on technical cooperation between Guyana and China, he pointed to the Moco-Moco Hydro Project where Chinese nationals have been training local technicians to manage and take over the project.

Chinese experts have also been assisting Guyana in mushroom cultivation, bamboo craft and textile production by way of the Sanata Textile mill.

There has also been assistance from China in the medical field where Chinese doctors have been attached to hospitals in Guyana.

Recently they have been training the local doctors in Chinese traditional medicine.

Coaches in various sporting disciplines, including table tennis, have also come from China to assist Guyana.

The Guyana delegation will be visiting Beijing and Shanghai which is considered the commercial capital of Asia and one of the fastest growing trading cities in the world.

They are also expected to visit the Fuzhou Province where the climate is similar to that of Guyana.

Ambassador Song Tao believes that this province holds great trading opportunities for Guyana's private sector, especially in the area of agriculture.

It is expected that there will be the signing of a friendship agreement between Georgetown and Fujian, the capital city of Fuzhou Province, to provide closer cooperation between the two cities.

The 8th Meeting of the Guyana/ China Joint Commission is also expected to be convened.

Minister Rohee who will be attending this meeting, said there are a number of agreements which he hopes will be finalised and possibly signed.

During the visit President Jagdeo is expected to meet China's President, His Excellency Hu Jintao and Premier Mr. Wen Jiabao.

According to Ambassador Song Tao, these meetings will deepen relations between Guyana and China at all levels including economic, technical, cultural, and political.

"The two countries have common ground in international affairs and China supports Guyana, especially in its economic development." Ambassador Song Tao said.

A true Chinese welcome has been planned for the visiting Guyana delegation.