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Contact:
George Jude
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GG surrounded
by Foreign affairs officials and security personnel |
Wednesday, September 08, 2004 - Governor General of St. Lucia, Her
Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy on September 5th, 2004, arrived in Beijing to a
warm welcome by the Government of the People's Republic of China amid tight
security. Vice Foreign Minister, Mr. Zhou Wenzhong expressed to Her Excellency
his Government’s pleasure for the visit.
Following a short reception at the airport and a much deserved rest from the
over-10-hour flight from London, Her Excellency toured the famous Tian'anmen
Square Rostrum and the Palace Museum, which has three buildings, all major
heritage sites and among 30 of China’s tally on the World Heritage list. The
Buildings, all named with harmony as a theme set the tone for the Governor
General’s message in the visitors’ book. She wrote: “It is good to be able to
sit here today and remember Chinese Emperors and their obvious administrative
skills. Supreme Harmony, Medium Harmony and Preserving Harmony, these are indeed
the principles by which the world today should live. Best wishes”. Later, the
Governor General visited the Liyuan Theatre to watch the Peking Opera.
Her Excellency and her six-member delegation were accompanied by a motorcade of
nine vehicles, which included security and medical contingents. Some roads were
blocked and venues barricaded to accommodate the visit, as onlookers wave at the
St. Lucia Flag-led motorcade.
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GG signs
Visitor's Book as ADC Captain Cyril Saltibus and security personnel look on |
The visit of Her Excellency complied with the request by the Chinese
Government to continue and intensify the high level delegations' visit from the
Caribbean to the People's Republic of China. More so, the visit allows St. Lucia
the opportunity to impress upon the Chinese authorities the gratitude with which
Saint Lucia has received the assistance given. Two major projects have already
been completed, the Goods Distribution Zone in
Vieux Fort.
The third project, the construction of a Psychiatric Hospital is to commence in
the first quarter of 2005. A fourth project will begin immediately after the
completion of the hospital.
In an interview with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
People’s Republic of China to St. Lucia, His Excellency Mr. Gu Huaming said,
“The Chinese Government attaches great importance to Her Excellency’s visit as
Dame Pearlette Louisy is the Head of St. Lucia so the Chinese side accord Her
Excellency the Head of State visit. It also expresses the Chinese people’s
friendship to the St. Lucian people and Government”. He pointed out that the
Chinese people knew of Her Excellency’s visit, as it was announced by the
Chinese Foreign Ministry and was in the media.
The visit by her Excellency takes added significance in that her seventh year in
office coincides with seven years of diplomatic relations with China, upon the
establishment of which, four main projects were agreed to. The first three
projects comprised the Goods Distribution Free Trade Zone in Vieux Fort, the
National Stadium, and the Psychiatric Hospital, all totalling approximately
EC$100 million. This makes the Chinese Government the largest aid donor in such
a short period of time.
Beijing, which is slated to host the next Olympics in 2008, is China’s capital.
It is 750 sq km and with the suburbs added, its area increases to 16,800 sq km
with a population of over 12 million. China has a population of over 1.3 billion
people, easily the most populated country in the world.
Her Excellency is accompanied on the 14-day visit by representatives of the
Ministries of Home Affairs, Education, External Affairs and Government
Information Service.
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