Background paper for the Advisory Committee of the Caribbean Council on China’s developing involvement in the Caribbean. 

China has made clear it wants to continue to deepen its relationship with the Caribbean. There is willingness on the part of most governments to harness its positive intent towards the region. What is still missing is any significant public debate about the new relationship, how it might develop, its implications for relations with Europe and North America and how best to ensure that it results in positive long term benefit in the form of jobs, employment and growth.

This paper outlines some of the background in the developments in the relationship between China and the Caribbean, providing a basis for discussion at the Caribbean Council’s Advisory Committee meeting in November 2012.