BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (GIS) – Barbados and China are keen on deepening their diplomatic relations in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cultural skills development and vocational training initiatives.

The wide-ranging talks were held during a recent introductory courtesy call by Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Barbados, His Excellency Zheng Bingkai, on the minister of training and tertiary education, Sandra Husbands. The meeting was held in the minister's conference room at the ministry of training and tertiary education, Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St Michael.

Minister Husbands expressed her enthusiasm for cooperation between China and Barbados, in the area of cultural skills development.

“We recognise that we have cultural skills that we need to be able to better develop. It is not only training the specific art, but what are the support skills that have to be there to help an artist of whatever kind to be able to commercialise their particular talent? Yes, you have university colleges, and so on, that will help with the various skills that would be needed to support a cultural artist. So that is something that we want to engage.

“But wider than that, would be digital. Wider than that, would be the whole area of 'tech training' and the area of teacher training. We want to help our young people from [an] early age... to do math and science,” said minister Husbands.

Ambassador Bingkai in turn, conveyed his“high expectations” for collaboration between China and Barbados for training in technology. He also gave the assurance that his country is committed to the creation of opportunities for young school leavers in Barbados, through vocational education training and scholarships.

The envoy also proposed sending Barbadian students to China for short-term vocational training and leveraging the Confucius Centre for language and cultural exchange.

The discussion also revolved around AI technology and possible ways in which it may be used to transform the hospitality industry, which is Barbados' largest sector.

The ambassador affirmed that“financial arrangements” will be made to provide the best foundation possible, through Barbados' school system, in the areas of AI technology and digital transformation.

In closing, it was decided that a Memorandum of Understanding between Barbados and China would be formulated quickly, in order for the agreed-upon partnerships to be initiated.

Diplomatic relations between Barbados and China commenced on September 4, 1967.

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