The People's Republic of China and Jamaica formally established diplomatic relations on November 21, 1972. In 1973, China opened its Embassy in Jamaica, with H. E. Mr. Zhao Zhenyu as China's current Ambassador. In May 1992, the Jamaican government accredited its resident ambassador to Japan as its non-resident ambassador to China. In July 2005, Jamaica opened its Embassy in China with H. E. Wayne McCooke as its first Ambassador.
Over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral friendly relations and cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, military and other fields have developed steadily. In international affairs, the two countries share much common ground and common interests and have always supported and closely cooperated with each other.
On September 23-29, 1976, Deputy Prime Minister David Coore visited China. It was the first official Jamaican delegation to visit China after the establishment of diplomatic relations. Premier Hua Guofeng met with the delegation. The two sides signed a trade agreement, a commodity loan agreement concerning China's assistance of 5,000 ton rice to Jamaica and a protocol on a project of polyester cotton mill with Chinese assistance.
In July 1978, Vice-Premier Geng Biao of the State Council paid an official visit to Jamaica. Vice-Premier Geng met with the Jamaican Governor-General and held talks with Jamaican Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister on international situation and bilateral relations.
On October 5-10, 1982, Vice-Foreign Minister Han Xu paid a working visit to Jamaica and attended the UN Conference on International Law of the Sea. The Vice-Minister held talks with Mr. Shearer, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jamaica.
On June 6-11, 1985, a Jamaican Government Delegation headed by Mr. Hugh Lawson Shearer, Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade paid an official visit to China. This was the first senior delegation to visit China ever since Jamaican Labor Party had come to power. Acting Premier Wan Li met with the delegation. Vice-Premier Yao Yilin and Minister Zheng Tuobin of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade and Vice-Foreign Minister Zhu Qizhen held talks respectively with the delegation.
On May 24-28, 1986, a Chinese Government Economic Delegation led by Vice-Minister Lu Xuejian of MOFERT visited Jamaica. Vice-Minister Lu held talks with the Jamaican side on bilateral trade, the construction of a polyester cotton mill and a bamboo weaving project.
On January 14-21, 1990, a Jamaican Parliamentary Delegation led by Mr. Headly Cunningham, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mr. Courtney Fletcher, Deputy President of the Senate visited China. President Yang Shangkun, Chairman Wan Li of NPC Standing Committee and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen met respectively with the delegation.
On April 3-7, 1990, a Chinese Government Delegation headed by Madame Wu Wenying, Minister of Textile Industry visited Jamaica. During the visit, Madame Wu attended the launching ceremony of the Polyester Cotton Mill, a Sino-Jamaican joint venture.
On June 2-6, 1991, Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley visited China. It was the first visit of a Jamaican Prime Minister to China. Premier Li Peng, General Secretary Jiang Zemin and President Yang Shangkun met successively with the Jamaican Prime Minister. During the visit, the two sides signed an Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica on Economic Cooperation, an Agreement on the Provision of Loans by the Government of the People's Republic of China to the Government of Jamaica and a Cultural Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica.
On April 13-20, 1992, a delegation of the National People's Congress headed by Vice-Chairman Wang Hanbin of the NPC Standing Committee visited Jamaica. Jamaican Governor-General, President of the Senate and Opposition Leader held separate meetings with Vice-Chairman Wang.
On July 19-22, 1992, a Chinese Government Delegation led by Secretary-General Luo Gan of the State Council visited Jamaica. Jamaican Governor-General and Prime Minister met respectively with the delegation.
From October 31 to November 6, 1993, Mr. Paul Robertson, Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade visited China. Chairman Qiao Shi of NPC Standing Committee met with the minister and his entourage. Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with Robertson. The two foreign ministers also signed an exchange of notes on the provision of a batch of general goods by the Chinese Government to the Jamaican Government.
On August 17-20, 1994, Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Huaqiu visited Jamaica. During the visit, the Vice-Minister paid a courtesy call on Jamaican Acting Governor-General Gordon and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour Mullings.
On June 2-7, 1995, Chairman Li Ruihuan of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee visited Jamaica. Chairman Li called on Jamaican Governor-General Howard Cooke, Prime Minister Percival Patterson, House Speaker Carl Marshall, Opposition Leader Edward Seagar and other government officials. Chairman Li held talks with Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Seymour Mullings. Chairman Li also donated a batch of general goods worth one million RMB Yuan to the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Jamaican Parliament.
On June 2-7, 1996, Jamaican Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Seymour Mullings visited China. Premier Li Peng of the State Council, Chairman Li Ruihuan of the CPPCC National Committee and Madame Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation met respectively with him. Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen held talks with Mullings and signed with the latter an Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica on the Avoidance of Double Income Taxation and Prevention of Tax Evasion and an exchange of notes on the provision of a batch of general goods by the Chinese Government to the Jamaican Government.
On June 20-27, 1996, Jamaican Leader of the Labor Party and former Prime Minister Edward Seagar visited China. Chairman Li Ruihuan of the CPPCC National Committee met with him. Head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Li Shuzhen held working talks with Seagar.
On August 25-29, 1996, Jamaican House Speaker Carl Marshall visited China. Chairman Qiao Shi of NPC Standing Committee and Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen respectively met with Marshall and his party.
On July 25-27, 1998, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen visited Jamaica. Jamaican Prime Minister Patterson, Governor-General Cooke met with Vice-Premier Qian respectively. During the visit, the two sides signed an exchange of notes on a grant aid provided by the Chinese Government to the Government of Jamaica.
On October 7-12, 1998, Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson visited China. Premier Zhu Rongji held talks with the visiting Prime Minister. President Jiang Zemin and the CPPCC National Committee Chairman Li Ruihuan met with him respectively. The two sides signed a Framework Agreement of a Preferential Loan Provided by the Chinese Government to the Jamaican Government.
From May 21 to June 1, 1999, Jamaican Governor-General and Patron of Jamaica-China Friendship Association Sir Howard Cooke paid a private visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. President Jiang Zemin met with Cooke and his entourage.
On February 21, 2000, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan sent a congratulatory telegraph to Paul Robertson on his assumption of the new post as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Affairs of Jamaica.
On May 19, 2000, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica formally notified the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica of its agreement to the nomination of Mr. Guo Chongli as the new ambassador to Jamaica by the Chinese government.
On June 5, 2000, Jamaican government agreed to the recommendation of Mr. Zhou Yuejing by the Chinese Government as the Jamaican Honorable Consul to Shanghai.
On July 14, 2000, new Chinese Ambassador Guo Chongli presented his credentials to Jamaican Governor-General Cooke.
On November 5-9, 2000, Mr. Qi Huaiyuan, member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC and former president of Chinese People's Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries, headed a delegation to visit Jamaica and met with Prime Minister Patterson. Governor-General Cooke, who is also the patron of Jamaican-Chinese Friendship Association, held a dinner in honor of the delegation.
On May 7-9, 2001, Vice-President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Wan Jifei visited Jamaica at head of a Chinese economic and trade delegation. During the visit, Wan called on Mme Patricia Francis, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Affairs and President of International Trade Promotion of Jamaica, as well as Executive Chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce Mme Maria Bryan. The Chinese delegation visited the free trade zone and some enterprises in Kingston.
From June 28 to July 1, 2001, at the invitation of the Jamaican Foreign Ministry, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong visited Jamaica. During his visit, Zhou called on Jamaican Governor-General Cook, Deputy Prime Minister Marlins and Foreign Minister Robertson, and held talks with Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Bogle.
On Oct. 10-14, 2001, at the invitation of the Information Industry, Jamaican Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology Powell paid a working visit to China. Vice-Minister of Information Industry of China Lou Qinjian met with Powell and held a dinner in his honor. The Jamaican delegation also visited Tianjin and Shenzhen.
On April 13-18, 2002, at the invitation of Jamaican Ministry of Finance, Vice-Minister of Finance Luo Jiwei visited Jamaica. During the visit, Luo paid a courtesy call on Jamaican Acting Governor-General and held talks respectively with Finance Minister Davies and Director of Planning Administration Wesley. On behalf of the Chinese Government, Vice-Minister Luo presented two computers to the Jamaican youth field and track tournament.
On September 11-18, 2002, at the invitation of the Jamaican Parliament, a NPC delegation headed by Xu Dengxin, Member of NPC Standing Committee and Vice-Chairman of its Foreign Affairs Committee, paid a visit to Jamaica. Jamaican Governor-General Cooke, Speaker of the House of Representatives Neilson, Deputy Speaker Williams and Vice-President of the Senate Douglas met with the delegation respectively. The delegation also met with Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Knight and the Opposition leader of the Senate Hardeen.
On October 24-27, 2002, at the invitation of Jamaican ruling People's National Party, Deputy Head of the International Liaison Department of CPC Central Committee Cai Wu visited Jamaica. During the visit, Cai met respectively with General Secretary of the People's National Party Wilson, Deputy leader of the party and Minister of National Security Phillips, as well as leader of the Labor Party Seaga.
From November 29 to December 3, 2002, President of Chinese People's Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries Chen Haosu visited Jamaica. Jamaican Governor General Cooke met with him.
On January 20-23, 2003, at the invitation of the Jamaican Government, State Councilor Wu Yi visited Jamaica at the head of a Chinese Government Delegation. During the visit, Mme Wu held talks with Jamaican Prime Minister Patterson and called on Governor General Cooke. The two sides signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation concerning the Chinese Government providing the Jamaican Government with an interest-free loan, the exchange of notes concerning the Chinese Government providing the Jamaican Government with aid gratis, and the certificate of delivering audio-video and computer equipment by the Chinese Government to the Jamaican National Archives.
On September 19-21, 2003, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Jamaica. Duing the visit, Jamaican Governor General Cooke and Jamaican Prime Minister Patterson met with Minister Li respectively. Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade held talks with Minister Li. The two sides exchanged views broadly on developing bilateral relations as well as on promoting cooperation between China and Jamaica on politics, economy, trade and education, etc.
On February 17-22, 2004, at the invitation of the Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Keith Desmond Knight paid an official visit to China. Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong and Vice Premier Wu Yi met with Knight respectively. Foreign Minister Li held talks with Knight. The two sides signed The Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica on the Provision of Concessional Loan, the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperaion between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica and the Letter of Exchange for dispatch of two Chinese table tennis coaches to Jamaica.
On May 18-21, 2004, at the invitation of Jamaican ruling People's National Party (PNP), Head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui visited Jamaica at the head of a Delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Jamaican Governor General Cooke, Jamaican Prime Minister and Leader of NPC Patterson, Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Knight, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jamaica Peart and President of Senate of Jamaica Burnett met with the delegation respectively. President of NPC Pickersgill held talks with Wang Jiarui.
On September 29, 2004, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing who was heading the Chinese delegation to the 59th UN General Assembly met with Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Knight.
On February 1-3, 2005, at the invitation of the Jamaican Government, Vice President Zeng Qinghong paid an official visit to Jamaica. During the visit, Vice President Zeng met with Jamaican Governor General Howard Cook and held talks with Jamaican Prime Minister Patterson. Patterson announced that the Jamaican government recognizes China's complete market economy status. Both sides declared the establishment of friendly partnership of common development and signed the following agreements on economic and trade cooperation, culture, tourism, etc. (The above 8 agreements are Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica, The Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jamaica on the Provision of Concessional Loan, Letter of Exchange for Chinese Language Instructor, Memorandum of Understanding between the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism of Jamaica on the Facilitation of Group Travel by Chinese Tourists to Jamaica, Agreement of Cooperation between China Council for Promotion of International Trade and Jamaica Promotions Corporation, Water System Rehabilitation and Extension Project between the Export-Import Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance and Planning of Jamaica, Frame Agreement between China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals Company Limited and Government of Jamaica on Bauxite and Alumina Trade and Mining Cooperation and Commercial Contract between China National Corporation for Overseas Economic Cooperation and the National Water Commission of Jamaica on Water System Rehabilitation and Extension Project.) Zeng also attended the first Ministerial Conference of the China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum and the official Opening of the China-Caribbean Trade Fair held in Kingston.
On June 19-24, 2005, at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Jamaican Prime Minister Percival J. Patterson paid an official visit to China. During the visit, President Hu Jintao and Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) met with Patterson respectively. Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with his Jamaican counterpart. Both sides signed six documents on cooperation in economy, technology and education, ect. The six documents are as follows: Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the People's Republic of China; Cooperation Agreement between the Jamaica Cabinet Office (Development) and China Minmetals Corporation on Bauxite Mining and Alumina Refining Cooperation; Heads of Agreement on the Jamaica Railway Transportation Systems; Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the People's Republic of China in the field of Education; Exchange of Notes between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Issuing Each Other's Nationals Multiple Entry Visas for Purposes of Business Travels.