President Irfaan Ali formally accepted the Letters of Credence from Yang Yang, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, in a ceremony held at the Office of the President. Ambassador Yang succeeds Guo Haiyan, who completed her tenure in December 2024 after three years of service.

Ambassador Yang’s arrival comes at a sensitive juncture in Guyana-China relations. The accreditation follows recent controversy sparked by remarks from China’s Charge d’Affaires, Huang Rui, suggesting that Guyana and Venezuela should resolve their longstanding border dispute through negotiations. This statement was met with a sharp rebuttal from Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reaffirmed the country’s commitment to seeking a judicial settlement at the International Court of Justice.

Despite the diplomatic friction, President Ali underscored the longstanding and fruitful partnership between Guyana and China, which dates back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972. Guyana was the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to forge official ties with China, and the relationship has since grown to encompass significant cooperation in infrastructure, trade, agriculture, and health.

Recent years have seen a surge in bilateral trade, with figures reaching US$800 million in the first half of 2024, representing a 31 percent year-on-year increase. Chinese investment continues to play a pivotal role in Guyana’s development, notably through major infrastructure projects such as the US$260 million Demerara River Bridge and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge Project.

As Ambassador Yang assumes her post, both countries have signaled their intent to further strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors, even as they navigate the complexities of regional geopolitics and sensitive diplomatic issues.