Ambassador Clement Antonio with ORVIA’s Winni Wang during the Global Dialogue interview. Antonio arrived in Beijing on July 11, succeeding Brian Stuart-Young, who had covered China as non-resident ambassador for 11 years.

Antigua and Barbuda is seeking to attract more Chinese visitors and investment in high-end tourism, renewable energy and the blue economy, Ambassador to China Clement Antonio said in an interview outlining his priorities in Beijing.

Speaking during investment migration advisory firm ORVIA’s Global Dialogue series, Antonio described the relationship between the two countries as “mature, warm and increasingly practical,” with an emphasis on cooperation that creates local jobs and transfers skills.

His priorities include increasing Chinese visitor arrivals, expanding opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan students in China and connecting prospective investors with the appropriate agencies at home.

“If, at the end of my term, more ordinary people in both countries know each other better and feel the benefits of our cooperation, I will consider that a success,” he said.

Antonio identified opportunities to develop the Chinese tourism market, saying travelers are increasingly seeking high-quality destinations farther from home. However, he said air access, Chinese-language services and greater awareness of Antigua and Barbuda remain necessary to support that growth.

He pointed to demand for privacy, wellness, dining, sailing, diving and cultural experiences, alongside accommodation that conserves water, uses renewable energy and protects coastal environments.

The US$200 million Long Bay Zen Resort is among the developments highlighted in the interview as supporting that approach.

The planned 113-room resort at Long Bay will replace the former Long Bay Hotel. Its proposed features include overwater villas, beach villas with pools and an overwater wedding chapel, alongside smart rooms, an artificial intelligence concierge and delivery robots.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, which built the terminal at V.C. Bird International Airport that opened in 2015, is undertaking the resort’s construction. Major construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to the account accompanying the interview.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez attended the resort’s groundbreaking in May.

At that event, Browne said the government was seeking “quality, more so than quantity” in tourism development. Fernandez described the project as supporting the country’s Vision 2030 tourism agenda.

Environmental protection is a particular consideration because the site includes a sea turtle nesting beach. Plans include renewable energy, an on-site desalination plant and measures intended to reduce the development’s carbon footprint.

Antonio said the project had maintained “frequent dialogue” with the Development Control Authority and the Department of Environment, describing it as the kind of sustainable, low-impact investment he supports.

He also stressed that his diplomatic role does not extend to granting development approvals or investment incentives.

Those decisions, he said, remain with the relevant authorities in Antigua and Barbuda under domestic laws and procedures. He advised prospective investors to begin with the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority, conduct thorough due diligence and obtain independent advice.

“That discipline protects investors, and it protects our country,” Antonio said.

Antigua and Barbuda established diplomatic relations with China in January 1983. The relationship expanded with the country’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018 and the opening of its first embassy in Beijing during Browne’s January 2024 visit.

Antonio, who took up his post in July, said the embassy’s role is to serve as a bridge between the two countries.

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This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda targets Chinese investment and luxury tourism, ambassador says.