China is to provide 4 billion yuan ($530m; £261m) of cheap loans to Chinese firms investing in the Caribbean, says the state-run China Daily newspaper.

As China continues its economic boom, the Caribbean is a growing source for its imports of raw materials such as aluminum oxide, nickel, and sugar.
In the opposite direction, Caribbean nations are buying increasing amounts of Chinese clothing and other goods.
China has been steadily increasing its global investments in recent years.
Analysts say this is both to help quench its ever increasing thirst for oil and other raw materials, and also increase its global influence as its political power rises in tandem with its growing economic might.
The China Daily article quoted Vice President Wu Yi, who is currently hosting the second China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in the south eastern city of Xiamen.
The event is being attended by delegates from 13 Caribbean countries including Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, and St Lucia.
""China will provide assistance without attaching any political strings, including providing 4 billion yuan in low-interest loans and training for 2,000 technical personnel,"" said Wu.
(Source: BBC