Martin Charles, Dominica's Ambassador to China: I like everything in China
Martin Charles, Ambassador of Dominica to China
"After coming to Beijing, I know more about China and I like everything about China." Martin Charles, Dominica's ambassador to China, said in an exclusive interview with the People's Daily Overseas Network recently. Charles said that China is a close friend of Dominica, "China has been helping us in difficult times."
"China's development is unstoppable."
Since Charles first visited China in 2009, going to China has become his regular itinerary every year. "Before I became the ambassador to China, I came to China on average twice a year." Charles said, "I have witnessed the tremendous changes in China over the years." He was amazed not only by Beijing Daxing International Airport, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, etc." The completion of "hard facilities", and the continuous improvement of "soft facilities" such as education and the environment. Speaking of this, Charles pointed out the window: "China has more and more blue skies, and the weather in Beijing today is very good."
The more Chinese cities he visits, the more optimistic Charles is about China's development prospects. Speaking of the most impressive city, he mentioned Shenzhen. In more than 40 years, some international metropolises in foreign countries have gone through hundreds of years. Shenzhen has written wonderful stories on a piece of white paper. When Charles really walked into this young city, he felt the vitality of spring. "When you see that there are so many young people in the technology industry in Shenzhen, you will feel that China's development is unstoppable." Charles said. China's development has not only speed, but also temperature.
On the road to a well-off society, the Communist Party of China's promise of "not leaving one behind" is full of the temperature of China's development. In Ningde, Fujian, Charles saw how the Chinese Communist Party led the people on a road to get rid of poverty and get rich. Seeing the historical changes in Ningde, Charles was deeply touched: "No matter what your current life is, as long as you move in the right direction, you will always see light at the end of the tunnel."
On the land of China, Ningde was performed one after another. story. Charles said that for more than 40 years, the Communist Party of China has led 770 million rural people out of poverty and achieved the poverty reduction goal of the "United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" 10 years ahead of schedule. This is a unique feat in the world. "I admire the Chinese Communist Party's governance capabilities and congratulate the Chinese Communist Party for its outstanding achievements in eliminating absolute poverty." Charles said.
"Thanks to the Chinese doctor for saving my life"
Speaking of the deep connection with China, Charles emotionally recounted a special experience that spanned life and death. In 2019, Charles suffered a myocardial infarction during his return to China. Thanks to the timely diagnosis and treatment of the Chinese medical team, he was brought back from the edge of danger. Charles then went to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University for surgery and eventually recovered. "My follow-up examination results were all good. If it weren't for the Chinese doctor who diagnosed my condition in Dominica, I might not have been so lucky. Thank the Chinese doctor for saving me." Charles said.
This medical treatment across mountains and seas is the epitome of China-Domain health cooperation. In recent years, China has vigorously supported the construction of Dominica’s medical and health undertakings and brought tangible benefits to the local people: the Chinese aided Dominica medical team has established new disciplines and performed new operations in Dominica, bringing advanced diagnosis and treatment concepts and improving the local area. The level of medical care has also trained local doctors. In 2018, the Chinese Navy Peace Ark Hospital provided comprehensive diagnosis and treatment services to more than 5,000 local people during its long visits, which was widely praised. "As the saying goes, see the truth in adversity, the Dominicans are very grateful for the help of the Chinese government." Charles said. In the face of the new crown pneumonia epidemic,
China has given Dominica the warmth in the snow. Charles said that the anti-epidemic materials and the new crown vaccine provided by China have been highly praised by the Dominica society. Charles revealed that it only took a few weeks from China’s commitment to the delivery of the vaccine. "Dominica is very grateful for this." Charles said that many cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and other politicians in Dominica immediately vaccinated at the vaccine handover site. "This is to express to the Dominica people and the international community that China's vaccines are safe.
The China-Dominica friendship has withstood the test of a super hurricane.
In 2017, the Category 5 super hurricane "Maria" hit Dominica head-on, almost "erasing" the island country from the map. Charles said that the damage caused by Hurricane Maria to Donimic is equivalent to 226% of a year's GDP. At a difficult time for Dominica to rebuild its homeland, China extended a helping hand in time.
China not only provided humanitarian cash assistance to Dominica as soon as possible, initiated the post-disaster roof restoration project through the United Nations Development Program, but also donated urgently needed ambulances, fire trucks and other civilian vehicles to many parties. China is more active in supporting Dominica’s goal of building "the world's first country against climate change" and strictly controlling the quality of projects with anti-hurricane construction standards in infrastructure cooperation projects between the two sides. Charles said that the design and construction of the Sino-Dominican Friendship Hospital undertaken by a Chinese company has strengthened its resilience to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, and "becomes a model project in Dominica."
Always standing with Dominica in difficult times, China is a cherished friend in the hearts of Dominica. In recent years, as the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have gradually increased, the feelings of the two peoples have been getting closer. "I invite Chinese friends to Dominica whenever I have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and characteristic handicrafts." Charles also hopes that Dominica people can experience the delicious Chinese life firsthand.
Charles especially hopes to promote the younger generation of the two countries to deepen mutual understanding. The government scholarships provided by China every year have enabled many Dominica students to truly enter China, and thus break out a piece of sky of their own. He introduced that Dominic citizen Delia Ducrei, who was selected as the United Nations' 2020 100 Most Influential Celebrities of African Descent, for her outstanding work in the field of education, is the beneficiary of the Chinese government scholarship. "We are very proud of the achievements of Dominica students in China, and hope that more students from Dominica will come to China for further studies in the future."
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