On October 5, a delegation from the Jamaican Seminar on Labor and Social Security Policy Planning and Implementation, organized by the Ministry of Commerce and hosted by SBS, conducted a field visit to Xinnan Village and Xinchang Ancient Town in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. The visit focused on rural talent cultivation and rural innovation industry incubation platforms. Twenty officials from the Jamaican Ministry of Labor and Social Security and other agencies participated in the visit.
(Seminar participants in front of the rice fields in Xinnan Village)
The visit aimed to provide the Jamaican officials with firsthand insight into Shanghai’s successful practices and policy outcomes in relevant fields through field research. The participants visited the Xinnan Village Rural Innovation Center, Xinkang Courtyard, the Xinnan Lishe Cultural, Creativity, and Wellness Accommodation Area, and the “Mr. Aijiao’s 100-Day Mentorship” live-streaming base, gaining an in-depth understanding of the operational models of these projects in policy implementation and community services. Additionally, they visited the Xinchang Haipai Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Base to exchange views on how intangible cultural heritage inheritance drives employment.
(Participants visit the Medicinal Diet Courtyard)
(Participants visit the Xinnan Lishe Cultural, Creativity, and Wellness Accommodation Area)
During the visit, the Jamaican officials expressed that they found the experience highly rewarding. While visiting the Xinkang Courtyard, Ms. Valencia Brunnhilde Carter, Director of Human Resource Management from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, expressed admiration for the integration of TCM medicinal cuisine with modern health concepts, noting that it offers a new model for Jamaica’s community health policies. At the “Mr. Aijiao’s 100-Day Mentorship” live-streaming base, Mr. Germaine Ricardo Williams, Social Services Administrator, observed the significant potential of such models in generating employment and supporting micro and small enterprises. At the Xinchang Haipai TCM Culture Base, Ms. Sheena Elizabeth Charles, an official from the Manchester Parish Compensation and Employment Division, was deeply impressed by the woodblock printing activity. She pointed out that this integrated practice of “TCM + Culture + Rural Development” offers new ideas for Jamaica in promoting health security and the preservation of traditional culture.
(Seminar participants experience woodblock printing)
Through field visits, hands-on experiences, and in-depth exchanges, this study tour not only demonstrated Shanghai's achievements in exploring the integration of rural revitalization and TCM culture but also provided valuable references for Jamaica’s practices in the fields of labor and employment, social security, and health policy. Both sides look forward to using this visit as an opportunity to further expand cooperation in sustainable development and people’s livelihood security, jointly promoting China-Jamaica friendly relations to new heights.
Written by: Li Shuo
Photography by: Zhang Nuoya
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
