By H.E. Chu Maoming, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica.
As winter turns to spring, we have ushered in the year 2026. At the outset, I would like to extend my New Year greetings to all readers.
Looking back on the past year, the world has been plagued by frequent conflicts, and economic globalization has come under severe strain. Tariff wars have undermined international trade rules and disrupted the global economic order, seriously affecting the livelihoods of people across the globe. Despite mounting challenges, China’s economy has pressed ahead under pressure, pursuing high-quality development and new growth drivers. China’s contribution to global economic growth has remained at around 30 percent, providing strong support to the world economy with remarkable resilience and robust vitality. As the new year begins, the world remains mired in turbulence. In the face of these challenges, China has both the confidence and the capability to maintain stable and positive economic performance and to continue serving as a key engine for global development as the world climbs out of difficulties.
This year marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). It represents a new blueprint for China’s development and a new vision for win-win cooperation between China and the rest of the world. The Central Economic Work Conference, convened not long ago, identified eight priority tasks to advance China’s economic development this year and ensure a sound start to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Among these priority tasks, the commitment to opening up has perhaps attracted the greatest international attention. For the world, an open China presents vast opportunities and immense potential. In 2026, China will continue to pursue high-level opening up, further unleash the dividends of its super-sized market, lead global openness and cooperation, and counter the undercurrents of decoupling and protectionism. China will steadily advance institutional opening up, promote the integrated development of trade and investment as well as domestic and foreign trade, encourage and support trade in services, actively develop digital trade and green trade, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and promote the conclusion of more regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements.
Belt and Road cooperation has become the most important framework for cooperation between China and Dominica. Since last year, the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China–CELAC Forum, the third China’s Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, and the recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan have all made it clear that cooperation across various fields should be actively advanced under the Belt and Road framework, with joint efforts to ensure the safe and smooth implementation of cooperation projects. This year, China–Dominica practical cooperation will once again deliver tangible outcomes. The two sides will see the completion and handover of post-hurricane school reconstruction projects, enabling many children to study in spacious, bright, and well-equipped new campuses.
Advancing a comprehensive green transformation is also a key priority of this year’s economic work. It’s emphasized that China will continue to make concerted efforts on five fronts, coordinating carbon reduction, pollution control, greening, and economic growth, to strengthen the momentum of green development. China will actively and prudently advance carbon peaking, implement a dual control system for total carbon emissions and emissions intensity, and steadily promote peak consumption of coal and oil. Efforts will be accelerated to build a new energy system, continuously increase the share of renewable energy, and expand the application of green electricity. China will speed up the development of green and low-carbon industries, foster new growth areas such as hydrogen energy and green fuels, and strengthen the recycling and utilization of renewable resources. It will continue to advance the battle against pollution, make solid progress in protecting blue skies, clear waters, and clean land, and coordinate major projects for the protection and restoration of key ecosystems. China will also enhance its capacity to respond to extreme weather, strengthen the linkage between meteorological and disaster early-warning systems, and improve disaster management capabilities.
Though separated by vast distances, China and Dominica share the same planet. The two countries have always been like-minded in advancing green development and global climate governance. In September last year, my President H.E. Xi Jinping announced China’s new nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets, demonstrating China’s unwavering resolve to address climate change with undiminished commitment and intensity. During his respective meetings with Dominican President H.E. Sylvanie Burton (in 2025) and Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit (in 2024), President Xi underscored China’s willingness to continue supporting Dominica in enhancing its capacity to address climate change and strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation. Under the joint guidance of the two countries’ leaders, China and Dominica will work hand in hand to better coordinate economic development and climate governance, and jointly foster a sustainable and resilient future.
As a Chinese saying goes, “The whole year’s work depends on a good start in spring.” With the blueprint drawn, China’s economic prospects are exceptionally bright. China will continue to forge ahead with resolve and enterprise, allowing the spring breeze of Chinese modernization to bring even more opportunities to Dominica.
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