According to a press release from the Guyana Embassy in China, he observed that President Jagdeo was the first Head of State to visit China following the recently concluded National People's Congress (NPC) at which the current Chinese leadership was elected, and said this was a reflection of the excellent relations existing between Guyana and China.

President Jagdeo held bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart at the Great Hall of the People on his arrival in Beijing.

The release said that during the talks, President Jintao pledged the support of his government to assist Guyana in restructuring its traditional industries and disclosed that it would provide additional financing for the construction of the International Convention Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, apart from the initial sum of 10M RMB.

President Jintao noted that both countries shared a common position of the need for a fair and just new political and economic order.

President Jagdeo, elaborating on the position adopted by Guyana for an ethical approach to international relations and interdependence between the North and South, which form the basic principles of a New Global Human Order, as articulated by Guyana's late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, noted that it was adopted for further discussions at the UN General Assembly.

In addressing the challenges facing developing countries in the era of globalisation, President Jagdeo highlighted the vulnerability of small states, and stressed in particular the need for special and differential treatment to those countries in the international trading system.

His Chinese counterpart concurred with him and pledged China's continued support for this position to be incorporated in the agreement which would result from the new round of talks on international trade.

Following the conclusion of the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of two agreements by Guyana's Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation, Mr. Clement Rohee and the Chinese Minister of Commerce.

One of the agreements confirms the provision of a grant of an additional 10M yuan for the construction of the International Convention Centre in Guyana, while the other agreement puts in place bilateral arrangements for the promotion and protection of investments.

The embassy said the latter gives a firm boost to promoting investment and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

President Jagdeo briefed his counterpart on the political, economic and social developments in Guyana, and referred to the National Development Strategy (NDS) adopted by his government, which addresses resource development, poverty reduction, the restructuring of traditional industries and the diversification of the economy.