The three-day visit to Jamaica by the Chinese Vice-President, Xi Jinping, who arrived in the island last evening, has not elicited the fanfare expected, given the state of relations between Kingston and Beijing and, more important, Xi's expanding influence over China's attitude towards the rest of the world.

To put it baldly, Xi is the rising star of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the government. Having served in several senior provincial posts over many years, the 55-year-old Xi was named to the Standing Committee of the Communist Party Political Bureau at the CCP's 17th Congress in late 2007.

He was formally elected vice-president at the 11th National People's Congress, China's nominal parliamentary session, last March.

Barring a major hiccup, Xi seems destined to become the next general secretary of the CCP at the next round of leadership changes in 2012, succeeding Hu Jintao in that post, and as president of China. His nearest rival, it seems, is Li Keqiang, the current governor of the Shanghai province.

Important visit

Even in that narrow context, we feel, it is important that Xi, who is on a swing through Latin America, leave Jamaica with the impression that the country appreciates both the personal and strategic importance of his visit. It is always good to have a friend in court, especially in a country, notwithstanding the slight stumbles caused by the current world recession, that is fast emerging as the next global economic power.

Of course, Jamaica - as some of its Caribbean partners have already begun to do - is in a good position to further leverage this already healthy relationship. Indeed, relatively early in the day, Jamaica developed a 'one China' policy and has had diplomatic relations with China since 1972.

This has not been a static relationship and, for Jamaica, without benefits. Indeed, only this week, Prime Minister Golding announced the imminent signing of a US$100 million line of credit between Kingston and Beijing, apparently out of four billion yuan in concessionary loans that Beijing promised Caribbean countries two years ago, after a second China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum. Vice-President Xi will break ground in Montego Bay for a convention centre being financed by Beijing, and several other projects are under consideration.

Leadership role

All this, however, is not to suggest that the Chinese are a soft touch, or that Jamaica's foreign policy is anything other than mature. And, this latter point, we believe, is part of what is attractive about this country to the pragmatic Chinese who appreciate Jamaica's leadership role in the Caribbean and in Caricom. They would also understand that Kingston enjoys global influence, especially in the developing world, beyond its size and/or economic power. Beijing is confident that this influence will be exercised with principle and, therefore, balance, which makes Jamaica an independent but worthy partner.

Looked at through this prism, it is not surprising that then Vice-President Zen Qinghong came to Jamaica in 2005 for the first economic forum, or that Xi has included the island on his first official visit to this hemisphere. But while we must not compromise on principle, Jamaica must leverage all opportunities, including those to establish, to our advantage, special relationships.

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