A State Visit to
The People's Republic of China

Bahamas Information Services Photos by Peter Ramsay

 

NATIONAL GUEST HOUSE - Mrs. Bernadette Christie, wife of the Prime Minister seems pleased as she and Mr. Christie are officially greeted in the grand hall of China's National Guest House on Sunday afternoon immediately after the delegation's arrival in Beijing.  The formal accomodations are maintained for visiting Heads of State.

CHINA'S 'MUST SEE' - Prime Minister the Right Honourable Perry G. Christie began the official programme of his State Visit to China Monday 16th August with a tour of the Great Wall of China, one of that nation's 'must-see' attractions.  One of the most regognizable architectural features in the world, it is said that the Great Wall can be seen from outer space.  The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built and many Chinese spent entire lives in its construction for the defence of that nation.

JADE GARDENS - Prime Minister and Mrs. Christie visit China's famous Jade Gardens and pause under the legendary 'love tree'.

URBAN PLANNERS - Bahamian officials are shown visiting the Urban Planning Centre in Shanghai.  The city of Shanghai has its future planned over at least the next 20 years and residents or visitors can come to the urban planning centre to see exactly how the city is intended to develop. One of Prime Minister Christie pledges to The Bahamas is that development will be planned in fine detail for generations to come.

TRADE MISSION TO VISIT THE BAHAMAS - Governor Luzhan Gong of the Chinese Province of Fuijan (right) is shown with Prime Minister Perry Christie during formal talks before a banquet put on by the province, Wednesday 18th August.  The full provincial government of Fuijan attended the banquet in honour of The Bahamas and its delegation.  The Prime Minister asked Governor Luzhan to arrange for artisans and manufacturing experts from the province visit The Bahamas to train persons in design, craft making and souvenirs.  Such training, said Mr. Christie, would assist The Bahamas in manufacturing similar items in The Bahamas with local artistry for the tourist industry.  A trade mission is expected to come from the Fuijan area as a result of the request of the Prime Minister.

FUIJAN BANQUET – After formal talks with the Provincial Government of Fuijan, Prime Minister Perry Christie and The Bahamas delegation were feted to a banquet.  The Prime Minister was impressed by the scale of the reception, which featured a cultural display during the banquet.  Mr. Christie has invited the Chinese groups to visit The Bahamas.  Mr. Christie was presented with a DVD player made in the province and some hot pepper from the province, after he expressed a love for hot pepper.  The Prime Minister also received a traditional Chinese carving in stone for which the province is famous. The delegation spent the day touring many of the province’s manufacturing plants: a seafood processing plant, an agricultural processing plant and a stone-carving factory.  From the response of the provincial government, a spokesman for the delegation said “It is clear that the Chinese provinces also support the effort toward the internationalization of trade and exchange in their economy.”  Mr. and Mrs. Christie along with Governor Luzhan are shown enjoying the show.

BAHAMIANS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY – Amid the hours of hard diplomatic work involved in the State Visit of Prime Minister Perry Christie and The Bahamas delegation to the People’s Republic of China, the group found time to visit one of the fascinating sites of China’s capital Beijing.  Mr. Christie is pictured with other members of the delegation in the Forbidden City, home of the Imperial Palace of the ancient Chinese Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  From left to right are: Superintendent Stephen Seymour, Freddie Tucker, Bahamas Consul General in Hong Kong; Ronald Thompson, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister; Philip Miller Under Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs & The Public Service; Prime Minister Christie, Miss Alexandra Christie, Mrs. Bernadette Christie, the Honourable Allyson Maynard Gibson, Minister of Financial Services & Investment; the Honourable James Smith, Minister of State for Finance; His Excellency Dongcun Giao, Ambassador of China to The Bahamas and Andrew McKinney, Chief of Protocol [Acting].

CHINESE PARLIAMENTARY LEADER – Mr. Wu Bangguo, the Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress (the Parliament) is pictured greeting Prime Minister the Right Honourable Perry Christie warmly in Beijing.  Mr. Wu invited Mr. Christie to send a Parliamentary delegation from The Bahamas Parliament to visit the Chinese Parliament.  Mr. Christie undertook to convey the invitation to members of the House of Assembly Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.

LIFTING HEADS - Members of the Bahamian delegation standing as the national anthem of The Bahamas is played by the Chinese military band at Monday 16th August's afternoon welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Christie and the Bahamian delegation on a State Visit to China.  From left are Philip Miller, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ronald Thompson, Permanent Secretary in the Office of The Prime Minister; Hon. James Smith, Minister of State for Finance; Inspector Ednal Cunningham, aide to the Prime Minister; Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson, Minister of Financial Services & Investment; Superintendent Stephen Seymour, senior aide to the Prime Minister; Hon. Fred Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs & The Public Service; Freddie Tucker, Consul General of The Bahamas in Hong Kong; Miss Alexandra Christie, Mrs. Bernadette Christie and Andrew McKinney, Chief of Protocol (acting).