Cheers from China!

Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Mixing cultures is always nice. There's so much we can learn from each other, and everyone usually has a great time. The recent Jamaica China Friendship Association banquet was no different.

The event began at exactly 6 p.m. with the arrival of the patron, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, and his wife, Lady Allen.

The banquet was held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in celebration of the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the 36th year of the association.

Residents of both nations filled the room to fellowship and enjoy some authentic Chinese food.

It was a multicultural event with two nations that share much more than official diplomatic ties. Chinese Ambassador Zheng Quindian highlighted this in his brief address, noting that the relationship between the two countries dates back a century and a half with the arrival of the first set of Chinese workers to Jamaica in 1854.

He noted that Jamaica was China's fourth-largest trading partner. In toasting this partnership, he highlighted the various areas in which both countries have and continue to cooperate.

Irena Cousins, in introducing the guest speaker for the evening, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickergill, noted that their relationship dates back to the 1960s.

Keeping his address like a lady's dress (long enough to cover the subject but short enough to be interesting), he noted that Jamaica risked possible repercussions when it established diplomatic ties with China in 1972. The association which followed four years later was part of a multifaceted approach in establishing new and innovative ways to seek collaboration between the two countries. It's a relationship that has yielded remarkable benefits for both countries and one that, based on the mood in that room, will continue to get better with time.

nashauna.drummond@gleanerjm.com