ANTIGUA / FRANCE – In the spirit of international cooperation, a landmark bilateral ministerial meeting unfolded on November 8, 2023, in Paris, amid the 42nd session of the general conference of UNESCO. The distinguished participants were Daryll S. Matthew, minister of education, sports, and the creative industries of Antigua and Barbuda, and H.E. Jinpeng Huai, minister of education of the People’s Republic of China.
Accompanied by his delegation, including H.E Boris Latour, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and permanent delegate of Antigua and Barbuda to UNESCO, along with deputy permanent representative, Timothée Bauer, minister Matthew engaged in a high-level dialogue that underscored the enduring, close, and amicable ties between Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China, spanning over 40 years.
Minister Matthew expressed optimism about transforming these four decades of exceptional relations into a prelude for an additional 40 years of even more robust cooperation, a sentiment warmly echoed by minister Jinpeng Huai.
The significance of fostering exchange and mobility opportunities for students from both nations took center stage in the discussions. Minister Jinpeng Huai enthusiastically endorsed these possibilities and extended an invitation for his counterparts to convene in China, seeking to further fortify educational cooperation between the two countries.
Minister Matthew also highlighted the pivotal role of cultural collaboration, citing China’s invaluable support in safeguarding and promoting the unique attributes of Antigua and Barbuda. He specifically referenced the Steel Pan musical instrument, and his desire for the participation of China to support his vision that every school in Antigua and Barbuda should have its own steel orchestra.
In a gesture of goodwill, both ministers extended invitations to each other, expressing the desire to continue and enhance the fruitful, friendly, and promising collaboration between their respective countries. This meeting stands as a testament to the enduring strength of diplomatic ties and the shared commitment to advancing mutual understanding and cooperation.
