Development of China Angola Economic and Trade Cooperation in Wider Fields

Antigua and Barbuda is an important partner of China in the Caribbean region. Since 2023, exchanges and cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and humanities between China and Angola have been smoothly carried out, and trade and investment cooperation has been continuously deepened. Customs data shows that in 2023, the trade volume between China and Angola reached 1.211 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 75%. Among them, China's imports from Anbar increased by more than four times, and its exports to Anbar reached 1.172 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 71.14%. Recently, Prime Minister Justin Brown of Antigua and Barbuda visited China to further deepen the friendship between the two countries and promote the development of exchanges and cooperation in a wider range and at a higher level.
Jiang Shixue, a distinguished professor at Shanghai University and director of the Latin American Studies Center, stated in an interview with China Trade News that Antigua and Barbuda has a small land area, a small population, and a relatively simple economic structure. As a result, China's trade and investment with Antigua and Barbuda are not significant. In the field of trade, China mainly exports products to Angola, with a scale exceeding 90% of the total trade volume. In the field of investment, China has provided various forms of assistance, such as interest free loans, preferential loans, and grants, to build some infrastructure that is crucial for the long-term development of Antigua and Barbuda, including the Antigua International Airport terminal project and multiple community center projects. In 2018, China signed a memorandum of understanding with Antigua and Barbuda, making Antigua and Barbuda the first country in the Eastern Caribbean region to join the "Belt and Road" circle of friends, providing a broader space for cooperation between the two sides.

The St. John's Deep Water Port renovation and expansion project is a landmark cooperation project between China and Angola under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2022, the expansion of St. John's Port was completed, becoming the largest mixed cargo terminal in the Eastern Caribbean region. Li Jian, General Manager of the Caribbean Branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, stated that after the renovation and expansion of St. John's Port, the port's transportation capacity and utilization efficiency have greatly improved. Before the renovation and expansion, the port could only accommodate one 10000 ton cargo ship at a time. After the renovation and expansion, it could accommodate two 10000 ton cargo ships simultaneously, with an annual throughput of 550000 tons. The St. John's Port renovation and expansion project has significantly improved the logistics flow in the Caribbean region, bringing tangible benefits to the local people and providing a platform for the development of Amba and the Caribbean region. During the construction period, the project extensively recruited local employees for training in construction safety, job skills, and other aspects, promoting local employment.

"China is a major shipping country, and we hope to expand cooperation in the shipping industry and attract relevant investment from China." "China's electric vehicles are very competitive in terms of price and quality, and can expand exports to Antigua and Barbuda." At the China Antigua and Barbuda Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum recently hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Justin Brown listed transportation, agriculture, education More than ten economic and trade investment opportunities targeting China, including healthcare. He stated that Anbar has obvious geographical advantages, advanced port facilities, and favorable tax policies, and has broad development space and potential in industries such as electric vehicles, food, education, and healthcare.
Experts say that Amba's investment environment has four major advantages. One is political stability. The frequency of adjustment of relevant investment policies and laws and regulations is not high, the system is relatively sound, and the investment environment is relatively stable. Secondly, the financial environment is favorable. Amba is a country with rapid economic growth in the Eastern Caribbean region, and its development prospects are bright. The third is that the infrastructure is relatively complete, and the power and communication industries have a good foundation. The fourth is its advantageous geographical location, radiating across North and South America.
Jiang Shixue stated that the tourism industry in Amba is very developed, with beautiful beach scenery. In addition to investment, Chinese tourists can also go to Amba for leisure vacation and experience the island culture. The reporter learned that Amba has a wide range of tourism products, known for beaches, international rowing competitions, and carnivals. It attracts a large number of tourists every year, and Amba offers visa free treatment to Chinese citizens.
In addition, Chinese Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Zhang Yanling, stated that the "Chinese fever" in Antigua and Barbuda continues to heat up, and currently, Antigua and Barbuda is considering promoting Chinese language courses in all public secondary schools. The Chinese government also provides scholarships for Amba youth, providing them with opportunities to further their studies in China. "This year, we also established the 'China Bookshelf' at the Amba National Library, providing a new platform for Amba people to better understand China," said Zhang Yanling.
Jiang Shixue told reporters that China and Pakistan can strengthen cooperation in multiple fields in the future: firstly, due to the relatively simple economic structure, Anbar's industrial products, daily necessities, etc. need to be imported from abroad, and China can export more products to it; Secondly, the development of tourism industry in Amba also requires continuous improvement of infrastructure level. Chinese enterprises can increase investment to help improve their supporting infrastructure implementation; Thirdly, both sides can strengthen cooperation in the field of new energy. Amba is an island country in the Caribbean region with abundant marine resources, while China's marine power generation technology is very mature; Fourthly, China and Angola can strengthen cooperation in global governance. China, Amba, and even Caribbean countries attach great importance to addressing climate change. The Caribbean region is mainly composed of small island countries and coastal lowland countries, which generally face serious threats from climate change and rising sea levels.