The Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources of The Bahamas Mr. Campbell,

Colleagues from the Department of Agriculture of Hunan Province, China,

Friends from the media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

We gather today for the Handover Ceremony of the Hunan-Bahamas Agricultural Cooperation Project. We are pleased to witness the fruitful outcomes of China-Bahamas agricultural cooperation and the profound friendship between our two nations. Let me extend a special welcome to Director GONG Zhiming and his colleague from Hunan Provincial Department of Agriculture. They traveled a long distance for today’s ceremony. Their presence reflects Hunan Province’s high regard for this project. I also thank the Minister for his presence.

"Those who share the same vision will not be separated by mountains and seas." This saying perfectly captures the story of Hunan-Bahamas agricultural cooperation. Over the past more than two years, Hunan Province has invested a lot to dispatch Chinese agricultural experts and to establish and manage this demonstration farm. Mr. Tang, together with the Bahamian colleagues, have cultivated high-quality peppers, cauliflowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons etc and etc, vividly demonstrating the importance of agricultural technology and management. Mr Tang and other Hunan’s agricultural experts have also visited schools, farms, and communities to conduct agricultural technology exchanges and organize training sessions. Over 300 individuals have benefited from this kind of capacity building.

Now this project has fulfilled its mission. I am sure the Bahamian Ministry of Agriculture can make full use of the resources left by this project. They include materials, equipment, and technology. For example, vegetable greenhouses, vehicle, rotary tillers, seeds, and fertilizers. I hope the benefits of the cooperation project continue.

The conclusion of the project certainly does not mean the end of our cooperation on agriculture. Let me share with you our cooperation on several other fronts:

First, in June this year, we held an Agricultural By-products Seminar in China. 23 Bahamian professionals participated in a 14-day agricultural technology training program in China. Minister Campbell and I held a launch ceremony for them. In fact in recent years, the Chinese Embassy has supported over 70 Bahamian agricultural practitioners to attend such seminars. In 2026, we will continue to organize similar seminars.

Second, last year, I visited North Andros. I donated agricultural tools to the local community. The reception was very warm. Before the end of this month, we will provide further donations to BAIC and other entities to better support agricultural development in The Bahamas.

Furthermore, China is actively exploring cooperation with an UN agency. We aim to implement a climate-smart agriculture project in The Bahamas. Through pilot projects, capacity building, and equipment provision, we hope to help The Bahamas to build a climate-resilient and sustainable food system.

A Chinese saying goes, "Food is the paramount necessity of the people." This ancient proverb has been passed down for thousands of years. It embodies China’s enduring emphasis on food security and agricultural development. Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, China has developed into a major and strong agricultural nation. It has successfully fed 22% of the world’s population with only 9% of the world’s freshwater resources and 6% of world’s arable land. China not only fed it’s own people, but also contributes to global food security. The Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping identifies food security as one of its eight priority areas. It aims to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through global cooperation in food security. It seeks to build a global community of shared development.

A Bahamian agricultural entrepreneur once said: The Bahamas must "bite the demon of food insecurity in the butt." This vividly expresses The Bahamas’ shared concern about food security. The Bahamas spends billions of dollars annually on food imports to meet the needs of its residents and tourists. The Bahamian government has set a goal to reduce food imports. It has launched projects like the Centrewille Eco-Village, the Agricultural Assistance Grant Program, and the Golden Egg Yolk Plan.

We all look forward to continuous progress of Bahamian agriculture. We also believe there is still great potential for China-Bahamas agricultural cooperation. My colleagues and I remain committed to enhancing such cooperation.

Thank you!