China and Caribbean leaders discussed expanding cooperation through China’s Blue Silk Road initiative.
Experts identified deep sea research, port infrastructure and marine resources as major areas for collaboration.
Regional scientists say Caribbean nations need support to explore largely uncharted deep ocean ecosystems.
Economists highlighted opportunities to attract a greater share of China’s outbound tourism market.
Speakers also pointed to climate resilience, early warning systems and disaster preparedness as priorities for future partnerships.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago
The Caribbean’s participation in China’s Blue Silk Road initiative may unlock new opportunities in tourism, marine research, trade infrastructure and climate resilience, according to academics and policymakers gathered in Trinidad and Tobago.
The discussion emerged during the forum China Caribbean Cooperation Amid a Changing World, hosted at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, where regional and Chinese experts examined how closer cooperation could support economic development in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Among the most significant themes was the potential of the blue economy, a sector that encompasses marine resources, shipping, fisheries, coastal development and ocean based industries.
Dr Chai Yu, Director General of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the Caribbean’s strategic position could support stronger trade links between the Atlantic and Pacific regions.
She argued that improvements in port infrastructure, logistics networks and institutional cooperation could strengthen economic ties while creating new opportunities for growth across the region.
China’s Blue Silk Road initiative, which focuses on maritime cooperation and sustainable ocean development, was presented as a framework through which Caribbean countries could access expertise in marine industries, climate adaptation and infrastructure development.
Dr Chai also highlighted cooperation in marine resource protection, offshore aquaculture and seawater desalination, areas that could prove particularly valuable for small island developing states facing resource constraints and growing environmental pressures.
Deep Sea Frontier
For Caribbean scientists, one of the most promising opportunities lies in deep sea exploration.
Marine scientist and Chair of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, Dr Judith Gobin, said Caribbean nations possess significant marine territories but lack the specialised vessels and resources required to explore them fully.
Regional institutions, including the Institute of Marine Affairs and The University of the West Indies, have developed considerable expertise in marine science. However, the deep ocean remains largely beyond the reach of many Caribbean research programmes because of the substantial cost involved.
Gobin noted that research expeditions conducted in Trinidad and Tobago’s waters in 2013 and 2014 revealed just how much remains undiscovered beneath the Caribbean Sea.
During a single 72 hour collection exercise, researchers identified more than 150 species previously unknown to science.
The findings underscore a broader global challenge. Scientists estimate that only a tiny fraction of the world’s deep ocean has been studied, leaving significant gaps in knowledge about biodiversity, ecosystems and potential marine resources.
Interest in the deep sea is also increasing because of international discussions surrounding marine genetic resources, biotechnology and the possibility of future deep sea mining.
Tourism Potential
Economist Dr Indera Sagewan argued that tourism could become another major area of cooperation.
China is home to one of the world’s largest populations and one of its largest outbound travel markets. Yet Caribbean destinations continue to attract only a relatively small share of Chinese visitors.
Sagewan suggested that even a modest increase in visitor arrivals could have a meaningful economic impact across tourism dependent Caribbean economies.
The discussion comes as governments throughout the region seek to diversify visitor markets and reduce reliance on traditional source countries in North America and Europe.
Shanell Sutherland, Tourism Adviser at the Association of Caribbean States, said awareness remains one of the region’s greatest challenges.
Despite advances in digital communication, many international travellers remain unfamiliar with individual Caribbean destinations.
Sutherland argued that stronger marketing campaigns, public relations efforts and digital engagement strategies could help bridge that gap while creating new pathways to potential visitors.
Building Resilience
Climate resilience also featured prominently in the discussion.
Caribbean countries remain among the most vulnerable in the world to hurricanes, coastal flooding and other climate related threats.
Participants identified early warning systems, forecasting technology, technical training and disaster preparedness as areas where cooperation could strengthen regional resilience.
Rather than focusing solely on responding to disasters, speakers emphasised the need to improve forecasting capabilities and build systems that allow governments and communities to act before crises occur.
For many island economies, resilience has become increasingly tied to long term development, influencing investment decisions, infrastructure planning, tourism growth and economic stability.
As Caribbean nations continue searching for new sources of growth and investment, the discussions in Trinidad and Tobago highlighted the growing importance of the blue economy and the role international partnerships may play in shaping the region’s future.
From deep sea exploration and maritime infrastructure to tourism development and climate adaptation, the opportunities discussed suggest that cooperation between China and the Caribbean could extend far beyond traditional trade relationships in the years ahead.