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HOME	FEBRUARY 12th, 2005

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A senior official of Mainland China has visited Grenada for the first time since the two countries re-established diplomatic relations in a deal which saw Taiwan dumped by the Spice Isle.

Ambassador Wang Zhiquan of the People's Republic of China (Mainland) made his first official appearance in Grenada on Monday during the national rally in commemoration of Grenada's 31 years as an independent nation.

Ambassador Zhiquan who flew in from Trinidad and Tobago was among several visiting and resident dignitaries who made appearances at the rally held at the Tanteen Recreation Ground in St. George's.

The Chinese diplomat later told local reporters that this was his first official visit to the country and he was very impressed with what he had witnessed at the celebrations. He indicated that he had brought with him, warmest greetings and congratulations to the Government and people of Grenada from the Government and people of China.

According to Ambassador Zhiquan, he is very delighted at the resumption of diplomatic relations between Grenada and Mainland China which ended during the 1984-90 rule of late Prime Minister Herbert Blaize. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell re-opened ties with Beijing last month after complaining about the level of aid received from the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan which the Chinese on the Mainland regards as a renegade province.

The Chinese Ambassador announced that very soon a team from China will visit Grenada to formally establish the Chinese embassy. He said the Chinese will also assist Grenada with the rebuilding of its agricultural sector, and national sporting stadium which collapsed with the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September.

Ambassador Zhiquan said that China appreciates the efforts of the Grenadian people to overcome their difficulties caused by Ivan and as such his Government stands ready to give whatever assistance it can in the circumstances. He added that the Chinese wish Grenada the very best in the efforts towards national rebuilding and economic development.

He pointed out that China recognises the projects in the area of agriculture which was undertaken by Taiwan and that his Government was ready to continue and renew those projects. When asked if it will be a big challenge to emulate the benefits the Grenadian people had received from Taiwan, Ambassador Zhiquan said emphatically, "No".

"I think that after the resumption of our diplomatic relations our Government has offered more assistance to the Government and people of Grenada (than Taiwan) and we do hope that the Grenada people will obtain more and bigger achievements in their national rebuilding", he remarked.

Meanwhile, Grenada's Minister of Foreign and Legal Affairs, Elvin Nimrod has described the recent Chinese economic forum held in Jamaica as a Caribbean forum and an extension of the Chinese goodwill to the region. Nimrod said Grenada received special mention for being the latest regional country to establish diplomatic relations with the Government of China

He stressed that Grenada was encouraged to put things into place so that the country can begin to benefit from all of the Chinese pledges and assistance that the island was promised in a recently signed agreement between the two countries.

"Sometime next week a team from China will be visiting Grenada to look at the stadium and to look at an area where they will be setting up their embassy", he said. Minister Nimrod announced that Grenada was in the process of identifying and appointing an Ambassador to Beijing.

In commenting on the status of the Grenadian students who are presently studying in Taiwan, the senior government minister told reporters that he does not know what the Taiwanese Government intends to do with those Grenadian students. However, he indicated that during his recent trip to Beijing the Chinese Government promised that it will be prepared to take in all of the Grenadian students should Taiwan decide to terminate the scholarship programme.