Antonia Hugh, Jamaican Ambassador to China, delivers a speech at an event in Beijing on Thursday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and China. Photo: Li Yuche/GT

A reception party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and China was hosted by the Embassy of Jamaica in Beijing on Thursday.

Antonia Hugh, Jamaica's ambassador to China attended the event. He said that Jamaica, one of the first countries in the English-speaking Caribbean region to establish diplomatic ties with China, was proud to support the one-China policy, while looking for new areas of cooperation with China, such as culture, health, human resources and education.

Jamaica is looking forward to seeing China further promoting the implementation of its domestic modernization plan, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative, Hugh said.

China is one of Jamaica's most valuable bilateral partners and Jamaica greatly admires China's unwavering commitment to the goal of modernization, the ambassador said.

Hugh also said that "landmark institutions" such as the Confucius Institute established at the University of the West Indies in 2009 can "enhance the dissemination of the Chinese language and history" in Jamaica.

"Chinese culture has been embedded into Jamaican culture," Hugh noted.

He also said that to provide Chinese people with more "new cultural experiences," Jamaica will continue to produce and export iconic local goods such as blue mountain coffee, lobsters and also the country's art and reggae music.

At the event, Cheng Hao, a fashion designer, showed his clothing pieces that mix Jamaica's textile aesthetics with China's traditional "batik" style.

Cheng told the Global Times that he was happy to bring the two countries' art together.

Through bilateral cooperation agreements and initiatives, the Chinese government has provided valuable support to Jamaica, especially in terms of infrastructure construction, Hugh said.

The new headquarters of Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Edward Seaga Highway were built with China's help.

Regarding education, Hugh noted that China has been seeking opportunities to support the educational development of Jamaica. "Many Jamaican teachers have been assigned to work across China's provinces, thereby improving individual economic realities in a practical and fulfilling way," he said.

China has also granted financial aid and scholarships in the medical sector to support Jamaican students to fulfill their dreams in China, the ambassador noted.

Along with Hugh, major guests who attended the event included China's Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng. Xie said that the China-Jamaica friendship has stood the test of time in the changing international environment and the two countries have built a strategic partnership over the past 50 years.

"We have seen a triple jump in our relationship, making it a prime example of equality and willing cooperation between countries of different sizes," said Xie.