Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,

Commander Alvin Gayle, Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management(ODPEM),

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Good morning.

On behalf of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, I am deeply honoured to attend the handover ceremony for the grant assistance and donation of humanitarian items by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of Jamaica.

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa caused serious casualties and property losses in Jamaica. Sharing Jamaica’s pain, China extended its deep condolences and sincere sympathies. On behalf of the government and people of China, President Xi Jinping sent a condolence message to the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica. Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi each sent message of condolence to Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister, and Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that Jamaica is a strategic partner of China. Our two peoples share a deep bond of friendship. China stands ready to provide assistance to Jamaica and support the Jamaican people in overcoming the disaster and building back their communities at an early date.

Today, China is officially handing over grant assistance to help Jamaica’s relief and reconstruction efforts. Moreover, based on the needs of Jamaica, China is donating humanitarian items. The first consignment with instant food and lighting equipment has arrived on December 1 and was delivered to ODPEM and JDF. The rest consignment including tents, prefabricated houses, garbage trucks, water trucks and tanks, diesel generators, and construction equipment will be arriving later. A Chinese medical team and a modern hospital ship “Ark Silk Road” will provide humanitarian medical services to the severely affected areas soon.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. China and Jamaica may be separated by mountains and seas geographically, but our two peoples support each other through trials and tribulations. China and Jamaica are friends who treat each other with sincerity, brothers who stand together through thick and thin, and partners who cooperate for mutual progress. China will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Jamaica, help Jamaica improve its climate resilience, support the Jamaican people in overcoming the disaster and building back their communities at an early date.

I’m convinced that with our hands joined together, Jamaica will rebuild stronger and more resilient.

Thank you.