19 September 2023

Distinguished Professor Andrew Spencer, President of the Caribbean Maritime University,

Distinguished Mrs. Tesha Walker Brown, Director of Students Affairs,

Dear professors, students,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Wah Gwaan!

It’s a great pleasure to come to the Caribbean Maritime University(CMU) to attend the ceremony. This is my first time to visit your campus. I’m very grateful to President Spencer for your introduction. I’m also deeply affected by the beautiful and tidy campus, energetic students and strong learning atmosphere here. Today we are witnessing 8 outstanding students from the CMU receiving the "Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship". On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to these students, and heartfelt thanks to the CMU for the strong support for implementing the "Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship" program!

The CMU is a higher educational institution focusing on maritime education, applied research and training. It has cultivated a large number of outstanding maritime talents for Jamaica and the Caribbean region, and made great contributions to promoting the maritime scientific research and social-economic development. Since the initiation of the "Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship" program, we have funded dozens of fully bright students, helping them realize their values and dreams, and sowing new hope for the future of our bilateral relations. This not only vividly demonstrates the close cooperative relationship between the Embassy and the CMU, but also fully reflects China’s strong support for Jamaica’s education.

China and Jamaica are good friends and partners who always help each other. Over the past 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Jamaica relations have always maintained steady development. Jamaica is the first Caribbean country that established a strategic partnership with China. Facing the new era, Chinese President, Xi Jinping creatively proposed the Global Development Initiative, which is highly consistent with Jamaica's development strategy, and further illuminates the broad road for the future cooperation between our two countries.

President Xi said, a country will prosper, when its youth prospers. Youth is the hope of a country and the pillars of a nation. I learned that the CMU’s vision is “the maritime university of choice for global leaders”. All the students here are our common future and hope. Dear students, it’s your historical mission to lead the development and prosperity of Jamaica and to promote the long-lasting development of China-Jamaica relations. I hope you could study hard and seize the opportunities of the times. While pursuing your highest potential, you could contribute to promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative in Jamaica and continuously strengthening the strategic partnership between China and Jamaica. The Chinese Embassy will continue to work with the CMU to carry out the "Chinese Ambassador Scholarship" program, and help more ambitious Jamaican youth bravely pursue their dreams.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the awardees again, and hope that all the students here could cherish their time, work hard, and write a new chapter for your motherland, and the world! Big up!

Thank you all!