China responds to recent report on Jamaican port security assessment

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Jamaica takes note of recent report that the U.S. company AECOM are approved to conduct a comprehensive port security assessment at Jamaica’s three principal commercial port facilities, namely Kingston Wharves, Kingston Freeport Ltd and Montego Bay Freeport, and would like to offer the following response:

China and Jamaica are friends who treat each other with sincerity, and partners who cooperate for win-win outcomes. While China Merchants Port Holdings and CMA CGM Group are shareholders of Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL), the port is managed by CMA CGM Group, which is a French company. China Merchants Port Holdings does not participate in the port’s operations and does not pose any threat to anyone.

Jamaica-U.S. cooperation is a matter between Jamaica and the U.S., on which the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China does not have a comment. However, Jamaica-U.S. cooperation should not undermine the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies in Jamaica. China will continue to take all necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of Chinese companies in Jamaica.

As always, China stands ready to work with Jamaica to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and expand exchanges and cooperation in various areas to bring the China-Jamaica strategic partnership to new heights.