The Chinese Navy's hospital ship "Silk Road Ark", on its "Harmony Mission 2025" mission, carried out multiple surgical operations in Jamaica's Montego Bay on Saturday, easing pain for local patients still reeling from October's powerful hurricane.
On October 28, Jamaica was struck by a severe storm, which put the local healthcare system under immense pressure. Many patients urgently needing surgery have been waiting for treatment as the island suffered medical facility damages and resource shortages.
The Silk Road Ark arrived at Montego Bay on Thursday for a 12-day visit. At the request of the Jamaican side, the Chinese hospital ship will dock at three ports in Jamaica - Montego Bay, Kingston, and Falmouth - to provide medical services to local residents.
Anthony, a 38-year-old Montego Bay resident, had endured three years of recurring abdominal pain and bulges in both groins and his navel. His surgery has been delayed due to limited medical capacity. Seeking treatment on the ship, Anthony's surgery was completed within hours of admission.
"Awesome - everything is very awesome. Everybody works together. Everybody is clean, everybody is friendly, they attend to you at the same time," he said after the treatment.
To keep Jamaica's overstretched medical system afloat, the ship and the local health department opened a fast-track channel, streamlining screening, pre-op checks and scheduling for maximum throughput.
"We've done 14 surgeries today, running four operating rooms at the same time. After a long voyage, high-intensity surgery is a real test of our staffing, equipment and workflow. We set up every equipment in advance, optimized the deployment of our medical staff, stocked ample supplies and followed strict protocols to make sure every operation was finished quickly and safely," said Jiang Xin, a doctor on the hospital ship.
Since arriving in Montego Bay, the "Silk Road Ark" has seen almost 2,000 out-patients, and performed 267 surgeries and procedures, including cataract removals, hernia repairs and gastroscopies.
Chinese hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" delivers post-hurricane medical aid to Jamaica
China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.
In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.
"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.
This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.
By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.
China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.
The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.
"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.
China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting
