On 25 June 2025, Her Excellency Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, Yan Jiarong, published a bylined article in The Tribune, the newspaper with the largest circulation in The Bahamas, titled When Hurricanes Strike, Friendship Endures—showcase of a community with a shared future for mankind in disaster cooperation. The full text is as follows:
The Atlantic hurricane season has arrived and is expected to be more active than usual. We may once again face the severe test of hurricanes.
In November last year, shortly after Hurricane Milton, I visited a restoration village in Grand Bahama built after Hurricane Dorian and delivered a donation. Though five years have passed since Dorian, its devastating impact can still be felt. Equally impactful for me was the big sapodilla tree in the restoration village—still thriving after storms and hurricanes. I shared the story of that tree the next day during a live panel debate on climate change. The panelists echoed me that the sturdy sapodilla tree symbolized the strength and resilience of the Bahamian people. Later that month, I visited a newly constructed hurricane shelter in Andros and presented a $30,000 donation from the China-Caribbean Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Fund to the Bahamian Disaster Risk Management Authority. I was deeply impressed by the Authority's professionalism and the Androsian’s courage and optimism in the face of natural disasters.
Natural disasters are a common challenge faced by all humanity. The risks facing The Bahamas reflect the special vulnerability of small island states in the era of climate change. “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” In critical moments, China has stood firmly with The Bahamas, putting into practice President Xi Jinping’s vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. Shortly after Hurricane Dorian struck the islands, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent a message of condolence to his Bahamian counterpart. In no time, emergency supplies including necessities, hygiene products and tools escorted by the then Chinese Ambassador arrived at the national disaster relief center. The Chinese government and Red Cross Society of China provided more than US$600,000 in cash and material assistance to help Bahamians.
In addition to direct disaster relief, China has long engaged in South-South cooperation to help the global south countries—especially small island states—enhance their climate resilience. As of October 2024, China had signed 53 agreements on South-South cooperation on climate change with 42 developing countries, conducted more than 300 capacity-building programs, and trained over 10,000 professionals from more than 120 nations, including The Bahamas. China has also set up a dedicated China-Caribbean Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Fund.
Some have asked, “Why would China, a country across the Pacific, send tents, generators, and experts to The Bahamas?” The answer lies not only in the friendship between our peoples, but also in the shared vision that we human beings have only one planet and we need a community with a shared future for mankind. We believe that together, we can weather any storm — and only by doing so can we truly share a common destiny.
Both countries believe in shared morality. Assistance is not only the light of humanity, but also a shared global responsibility. The vision of a shared future reminds us that the fortunes of humankind are interconnected. The Bahamas, as a small island state, suffers frequent hurricanes. Climate change also profoundly affects China, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. When the Bahamian people endure hardship, we genuinely feel and empathize.
China has always believed that the rights to survival and development are fundamental human rights. Supporting The Bahamas is part of our efforts to safeguard those rights and contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Both countries cherish the profound friendship forged as partners from the Global South. This enduring bond serves as the cornerstone of the mutual political trust between the two countries. A community with a shared future for mankind is built upon partnerships of equality, mutual trust, and mutual assistance. China and The Bahamas are true friends, bound by deep-rooted friendship. As fellow members of the Global South, we share similar histories of colonization and struggle, as well as common goals for economic and social development. China deeply appreciates the Bahamian government’s unwavering support for the one-China principle and its consistent stance on matters concerning China’s core interests, including the Taiwan question. This strong mutual trust is the ballast of our bilateral ties and a solid foundation for further disaster cooperation.
Both countries made multilateral commitment to fairness and resilience. To build a community with a shared future for mankind, we must champion genuine multilateralism and work toward a global governance system that is fairer, more inclusive, and more effective. The challenges of hurricane season underscore the urgency of global solidarity.
China has been highlighting the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” and together with The Bahamas we have spoken out for fairness and justice. We have repeatedly called on developed countries to fulfill their pledges on emission reductions and climate finance.
Not long ago, the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was successfully held in Beijing, setting a clear direction for joint actions on climate change and disaster prevention and mitigation. President Xi Jinping stressed in his keynote speech: "We have worked together to address global challenges like climate change. China will work with countries of Latin America and the Caribbeans to implement the Global Security Initiative. The two sides should cooperate more closely in disaster governance." The outcome document of the Ministerial meeting stated that China is ready to conduct joint research with LAC countries on climate responses, strengthen practical cooperation on disaster preparedness, and explore mechanisms for disaster relief.
China will actively implement the outcomes of the Ministerial Meeting and continue deepening climate cooperation, China will continue to support The Bahamas in disaster prevention and green development. China is willing to work with the Global South, including The Bahamas, to jointly promote a new global climate change governance and move towards a more equitable, universally secure, and resilient tomorrow!