On March 15, 18 diplomatic envoys to China from 11 Caribbean and Pacific island nations, including Nauru, Tonga, Jamaica, and Fiji, visited Shantou, Guangdong Province.
The delegation toured the Xiaogongyuan ("Little Park") Cultural District, viewing Yingge dance, lion dance and festive lanterns, and watched a Chaozhou opera performance at the Laomagong Opera Stage, experiencing up close the cultural legacy of the Chaoshan region.
For Chitra Talat Jeremiah, Ambassador of the Republic of Nauru to China, witnessing the Yingge dance for the first time was a profound experience. "I think the first thing that comes to mind is that it's so powerful, colorful, and it's so vibrant," she said. "It's full of culture. It's so traditional as well."
The ambassador was particularly struck by the youth of the performers. "I like it a lot because they learn from a very young age how to maintain their culture and the traditions. So they are able at such a young age to know the cultural dances, the cultural effects, and know that."
Yingge dance, or "Song of Heroes Dance," is a high-energy traditional folk dance from Guangdong's Chaoshan region that blends martial arts, opera, and dance. Dating back over 300 years, performers represent 108 heroes from the classic novel "Water Margin", wielding sticks or beating drums while dancing in festival parades.
The cultural resonance extended beyond the performances themselves. For Youandi Berrenstein, a diplomat from the Embassy of Suriname in China, the lion dance evoked a strong sense of familiarity. "Tonight, the performances we just saw, especially the dragon dance, that's very familiar to us in Suriname, because we have a big Chinese diaspora in Suriname and the Chinese people we have in Suriname," he explained. "They come from Guangdong province. It's a very familiar thing for me to see here since we have it in Suriname. Now to see it now in the authentic way, so to speak."
Berrenstein also noted the deep historical ties between Suriname and China. "This year, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. But the relationship goes even much further than that. We will also celebrate the 173rd anniversary of Chinese immigration to Suriname." Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about future cooperation. "From there, I'm hopeful and positive that it will be even more fruitful than it was before, with the young generation leading it in the future."
The envoys' enthusiasm reflects a broader strengthening of ties between China and small island developing states (SIDS). According to a report by the UK-based Overseas Development Institute published in January 2026, since 2018, China has initiated nearly 200 cooperation projects with SIDS, covering trade and investment, infrastructure, and public health. China has also jointly established platforms such as climate change cooperation centers and agricultural demonstration centers with SIDS, bringing tangible benefits to local communities.
On February 11, in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, Nauru's President David Adeang returned to his ancestral village during the Chinese New Year — not merely for a ceremonial visit, but symbolically, coming home. Ambassador Jeremiah noted the significance of these ties: "I think the friendship between Guangdong and the Republic of Nauru is only strengthened from the President's recent visit last month as well. So I think we also have students studying in Guangdong. So I believe in the coming years, the friendship between Nauru and Guangdong will grow."
The trade dimension is equally significant. In January 2026, China and Tonga signed an Enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement, with China expressing willingness to import more high-quality agricultural and fishery products from Tonga and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest there. Meanwhile, China's trade with Pacific island countries has seen steady progress, with the Ministry of Commerce reporting positive outcomes in 2025 from free trade agreement negotiations with six Pacific island nations.
Paul Clare, a diplomat from the Embassy of the Bahamas in China, who was celebrating his birthday during the visit, summed up the sentiment of many. "I'm enjoying my birthday here inside of the city," he said. "When it comes to the food, the cultural events, the people, I feel like I'm back home."
After receiving gifts from local residents, he added: "I want to say 'thank you.' And I hope to return one day. I also welcome everyone to come to the Bahamas." He emphasized the importance of mutual exchange, saying that friendship "should go both ways with the people of China and the people of my country."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Photo: Guo Zedong
Video & Video cover: Pan Jiajun
