At a formal ceremony marking the handover of a major Chinese-funded housing development in Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly lauded the deep, mutually respectful bilateral partnership between his small island nation and China, drawing a clear contrast between Beijing’s responsive engagement and difficulties accessing senior U.S. leadership.
Speaking Thursday at the handover of Pelican Court, a 150-unit condominium complex built via an approximately EC$50 million Chinese grant that replaces the dilapidated former Booby Alley settlement in St. John’s City West, Browne highlighted that he was able to secure a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping without delay, despite months of unsuccessful attempts to connect with then-U.S. President Donald Trump by phone. He framed this contrast as a clear demonstration of the equal respect China extends to small developing states, regardless of their size or economic power.
Browne emphasized that the decades-long diplomatic relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and China, established in 1983, has delivered transformative, tangible benefits to the Caribbean country’s people. “China is the most significant development partner to Antigua and Barbuda. There is no other country that has contributed more to our development than the People’s Republic of China during the last three decades,” the prime minister stated. He described the Pelican Court project as China’s most socially impactful investment in the country to date, noting that it will lift hundreds of families out of substandard, unsafe housing and dramatically improve their quality of life.
In comments carried by local broadcaster ABS, the Chinese ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda emphasized that mutual respect, equal treatment and respect for national sovereignty are the foundational pillars of the bilateral partnership. She stressed that cooperation between the two nations is mutually beneficial, and that China equally values the close relationship with Antigua and Barbuda. “China should also say thank you,” she said, underscoring the reciprocal nature of the friendship. The ambassador added that all Chinese development cooperation with Antigua and Barbuda comes without political strings attached, noting that Beijing’s core goal is to strengthen the Caribbean country’s long-term independent development capacity through infrastructure investment, skills training and knowledge sharing.
Responding to implicit external pressure to limit ties with China, Browne reaffirmed that his administration will unapologetically defend the partnership, because it is rooted in advancing the well-being of Antigua and Barbuda’s people. “So let us continue to march on with China as our most important development partner. And whoever wants to punish us for that relationship, feel free to do it,” he declared. While he did not name any specific country or threatened sanction, Browne later clarified to ABS that any attempt to undermine the bilateral partnership is fundamentally an attack on Antigua and Barbuda’s own development progress. “For any nation to try and undermine that relationship, they’ll be literally undermining our development,” he added.
Bilateral housing cooperation is set to expand in the coming years: a second phase of development, adding 100 additional units split equally between Bolans and Barbuda, is already in active preparation, and the Antiguan government has submitted a formal request for Chinese support to build a further 300 condominium units at Perry Bay, which remains under review for final approval.