China gets a taste of Barbados at Caribbean cultural fair
Barbados’ Ambassador to China Hallam Henry (left) welcomes Chinese visitors to the Caribbean Experience. (GP)
A literal taste of the island. (GP)
The Barbados booth at Caribbean Experience 2025. (GP)
Barbadian-Chinese trade and cultural ties took centre stage at Caribbean Experience 2025, held in Beijing on Sunday. Now in its third year, the vibrant event has introduced Chinese audiences to the rich cultural tapestry of the Caribbean, while strengthening people-to-people exchanges and fostering regional cooperation between China and the Caribbean.
Ten Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states participated in this year’s fair: Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Grenada, Haiti, the Bahamas, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados.
Representing Barbados was Ambassador Hallam Henry, who led a delegation of embassy staff and student volunteers. Together, they showcased the island’s culture at the Barbados booth, featuring authentic Bajan treats, promotional literature and Mount Gay Rum.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY, Ambassador Henry said the forum offered visitors a unique opportunity to experience the warmth of the island – something often missed in traditional marketing.
“We invite our Chinese friends and our friends in the diplomatic corps, people in Beijing, anyone in China. We welcome them to this event to learn a bit more about the Caribbean. We want to raise the profile of the Caribbean and, by extension, Barbados,” he said.
“In addition, the people-to-people relations are connected by Chinese coming here. They’re asking questions. They are very curious. They’re asking, ‘Where is Barbados? How can we get there? What’s there to do there?’ “Although we’re a small island, in China we have an event that can attract thousands, and it really benefits the relationship because it puts a person, puts a face, puts a culture, a language, everything to the country, so people start to identify with the country.”
The Guyanese embassy in China hosted the 2025 edition of Caribbean Experience. Guyana’s ambassador and chair of the Caucus of Caribbean Embassies in Beijing, Anyin Choo, noted that the event grows larger each year.
“This year we have the greatest number of participants. All the countries that have representation in Beijing are on board this year. It’s actually our biggest event since its inception. We take it as a benchmark going forward to have all the members represented in Beijing participate in this annual event,” she said.
Next year, the Grenada embassy will take the reins as host.
(QSJ)
Ten Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states participated in this year’s fair: Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Grenada, Haiti, the Bahamas, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados.
Representing Barbados was Ambassador Hallam Henry, who led a delegation of embassy staff and student volunteers. Together, they showcased the island’s culture at the Barbados booth, featuring authentic Bajan treats, promotional literature and Mount Gay Rum.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY, Ambassador Henry said the forum offered visitors a unique opportunity to experience the warmth of the island – something often missed in traditional marketing.
“We invite our Chinese friends and our friends in the diplomatic corps, people in Beijing, anyone in China. We welcome them to this event to learn a bit more about the Caribbean. We want to raise the profile of the Caribbean and, by extension, Barbados,” he said.
“In addition, the people-to-people relations are connected by Chinese coming here. They’re asking questions. They are very curious. They’re asking, ‘Where is Barbados? How can we get there? What’s there to do there?’ “Although we’re a small island, in China we have an event that can attract thousands, and it really benefits the relationship because it puts a person, puts a face, puts a culture, a language, everything to the country, so people start to identify with the country.”
The Guyanese embassy in China hosted the 2025 edition of Caribbean Experience. Guyana’s ambassador and chair of the Caucus of Caribbean Embassies in Beijing, Anyin Choo, noted that the event grows larger each year.
“This year we have the greatest number of participants. All the countries that have representation in Beijing are on board this year. It’s actually our biggest event since its inception. We take it as a benchmark going forward to have all the members represented in Beijing participate in this annual event,” she said.
Next year, the Grenada embassy will take the reins as host.
(QSJ)