On the evening of February 9, 2023, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng attended upon invitation the reception marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica hosted by the Embassy of Jamaica in China. He met with Jamaican Ambassador to China Antonia Hugh by the time.

Xie Feng extended warm congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica, and expressed his sincere gratitude to people from all circles of society who have been committed to promoting friendly exchanges between China and Jamaica over the years. Xie Feng said that China and Jamaica, though separated by vast oceans, enjoy time-honored friendly exchanges. Jamaica was among the first countries in the Caribbean region to establish diplomatic relations with China. Over the past half century, the bilateral relations have withstood the test of the changing international landscape.  With the establishment of diplomatic relations as the first step, a friendly partnership of common development followed and then upgraded to a strategic partnership. Thus the China-Jamaica relationship has made a leap of “three steps up” and set an example of equality and mutual respect for all countries. China and Jamaica should take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to implement the important common understandings reached between leaders of the two countries, carry forward the traditional friendship, and work together to continuously elevate the China-Jamaica strategic partnership to new heights.

Antonia Hugh said that Jamaica-China relations have maintained stable and sound momentum of development over the past 50 years, with fruitful cooperation in various fields. Jamaica thanks China for its valuable help in infrastructure construction, education, health and other fields over the years, and highly appreciates and firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative. Standing at the new starting point of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Jamaica is ready to work with China to strengthen coordination and collaboration in bilateral, regional and multilateral areas, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the in-depth development of the bilateral strategic partnership.