On February 28, 2025, ambassadors and diplomatic envoys of ten Caribbean countries with representation in China, gathered in Beijing for the media launch of the upcoming “Caribbean Experience 2025”, an immersive cultural festival that will be held in Beijing during the month of June .

This exclusive event was held at the Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Office Building in Beijing, and several distinguished guests were in attendance such as, Her Excellency Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana and Chairman of the Caribbean Caucus of Ambassadors ; His Excellency Hallam Henry, Ambassador of Barbados; Her Excellency Paulette Bethel, Ambassador of the Bahamas; His Excellency Ian Marshall, Ambassador of Grenada; His Excellency Arthur Williams, Ambassador of Jamaica; Her Excellency Pick Fung Ho-Chong, Ambassador of Suriname; Her Excellency Analisa Low, Ambassador ‌‌of Trinidad and Tobago; Mr. John Peter Caesar, Chargé d’Affaires of the Commercial Office of Haiti; Ms. Lisa Wang, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda; Ms. Serena Wang , Secretary of the Embassy of Dominica; and Mr. Liu Wenguang, Chairman of Beijing Grand World Culture Media Co., Ltd. Over 100 guests from Chinese and foreign enterprises, media, and other representatives were also present.

Welcome Speech by Her Excellency Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana to China : Embarking on an exciting Caribbean cultural journey

The Media launch commenced with some opening remarks by Her Excellency Anyin Choo, Ambassador of Guyana to China and Chair of the Caribbean Caucus of Ambassadors. During her speech, Ambassador Choo highlighted the strong bond of friendship between the Caribbean and China which have further deepened through extensive cultural connections and exchanges. Ambassador Anyin Choo also emphasized the unique cultural heritage of the Caribbean and that during the upcoming event, the friends of the Caribbean will get an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich traditions of the Caribbean people . She also noted that the 2025 Caribbean Experience promises to be much grander than the previous years in all aspects.

Caribbean Experience 2025 Preview and highlights by Ms. Ornissa Gordon

Ms. Ornissa Gordon , a representative from the Caribbean Caucus Sub-Committee, presented an outline of what can be expected at the upcoming Caribbean Experience 2025. It was revealed that the event will place greater emphasis on increased interactions with the addition of multiple cultural workshops and interactive exhibition areas. Attendees will not only enjoy traditional performances from Caribbean nations but also have the opportunity to participate firsthand and immerse themselves in the unique charm of Caribbean culture. Further, she highlighted that the event will feature renowned artists and performances from the Caribbean, offering a unique experience to their Chinese audience.

Speech by Grand World Media's: Promoting Caribbean Culture

As the management company for the Caribbean Experience 2025 event, Mr. Liu Wenguang, Chairman of Grand World Media, shared that the company will work closely with the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps to ensure the successful execution of the event. Mr Wenguang informed that the Grand World Media has applied for and launched the official WeChat public account for the "Caribbean Experience event," and warmly invited guests to follow these pages for the latest updates. Moving forward, he noted that Grand World Media will leverage its media resources to showcase the unique charm of Caribbean culture through a combination of online and offline mediums. This will allow for more public participation and engagement .

Free Exchange Session: cordial interactions and discussion of future plans

During the free exchange session, guests engaged in cordial discussions with the ambassadors and representatives from Caribbean countries. Light refreshments were also served and guest had an opportunity to to sample a variety of exquisite Caribbean beverages, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Media Q&A Session

During the Q&A session, the Ambassadors accepted questions from the media and provided detailed answers regarding the preparations for the Caribbean Experience 2025 event, its cultural highlights, and the prospects for China-Caribbean cooperation.

During the media Q&A session, His Excellency Hallam Henry, Ambassador of Barbados, Her Excellency Paulette Bethel, Ambassador of the Bahamas, His Excellency Ian Marshall, Ambassador of Grenada, Her Excellency Pick Fung Ho-Chong, Ambassador of Suriname;, and Her Excellency Analisa Low, Ambassador ‌‌of Trinidad and Tobago respectively accepted media interviews. They provided detailed responses regarding the preparation progress, cultural highlights, and prospects of China-Caribbean cooperation for the 2025 Caribbean Cultural Experience event.

Her Excellency Pick Fung Ho-Chong stated that the 2025 Caribbean Cultural Experience event has introduced new promotional methods, including the launch of social media platforms and the use of digital platforms to attract the younger generation. Through this event, young people will gain a deeper understanding of Caribbean countries' dance, music, culinary culture, and history.

His Excellency Hallam Henry mentioned that the Caribbean Cultural Festival focuses on cultural promotion, showcasing not only the cultures but also the cuisines and specialty products of various countries. Barbados has excellent rum, and we will bring the best rum to the event, but we also need interested investors to help promote it.

Her Excellency Analisa Low noted that the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has many high-quality products and places great emphasis on the beauty industry. She believes that investing in the beauty industry is a promising choice. Additionally, Trinidad and Tobago boasts stunning natural landscapes, and there are more opportunities for cooperation between the two countries worth exploring.

Her Excellency Paulette Bethel emphasized the importance of cultural exchange for diplomats. The Bahamas has undertaken numerous initiatives to promote cultural exchange. For instance, tourism is the largest industry in the Bahamas, so developing tourism in China and globally is crucial.

His Excellency Ian Marshall expressed that Grenada will continue to expand cooperation with China beyond existing investments, indicating significant potential for future development.

The Caribbean Experience 2025 event will be an all encompassing cultural fiesta where participants will get the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant cultural heritage of the Caribbean people in the form of food , dance , music , arts , crafts and beverages. Through this media launch, the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps extended n invitation to friends, encouraging everyone to participate and experience the unique charm of Caribbean!