Cave Hill launches Joint China Caribbean Research Centre
April 29, 2025
Prof. Gang Wenzhe, Vice Chairman of University Council, CUPL (left), and Prof. Clive Landis, Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus
A newly established research centre focused on climate change and other global challenges has officially been launched at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill campus, in partnership with the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL).
The Joint China-Caribbean Research Centre (JCCRC) was unveiled on Thursday April 24 with an initial funding pledge of $20,000, announced by Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Barbados Xinhua Huang.
He described the JCCRC as a significant achievement for both universities and a major step forward in strengthening academic and cultural ties between China and the Caribbean.
“It is our hope that the fund will help encourage exchanges of insights, spark new ideas in academic research, and further broaden the visions of all involved,” Huang said.
Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Antonius Hippolyte, hailed the initiative as an important platform for advancing understanding and cooperation on key global issues. Other areas of interest include international law, maritime governance, public health, economic resilience, and technological innovation.
Dr. Hippolyte noted that the establishment of the JCCRC represents a spirit of collaboration, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to knowledge, innovation, and sustainable development.
"This centre will not only serve as a hub for collaborative research but also as a bridge, connecting minds, ideas, and experiences across oceans and borders," he said. "Through this partnership, we hope to foster the next generation of thought leaders, scientists, and policymakers who will shape a brighter future for both our regions," he said.
Following the launch the campus, in collaboration with the CUPL, held a symposium on the International Law of the Sea.
Among topics covered at that forum were ‘Climate Change and Coastal Governance: The Role of Barbadian Environmental Laws in Protecting Critically Endangered Acropora Reefs’, and ‘Good Fences Make Good Neighbours: The Development of Maritime Delimitation Boundaries and Resource Exploitation in the Caribbean’.
