Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

Message from Ambassador Qian Hongshan of the People's Republic of China to Grenada to mark one year of resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries:

January 20, 2006 marks the first anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and Grenada. As Chinese Ambassador to Grenada, let me take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to those who had made great contribution to this historical event and wish everyone a peaceful and prosperous 2006. In the past year, we have witnessed a satisfactory development of China Grenada relations.

The bilateral personnel exchanges have been promoted and have yielded fruitful results. There have been visits to China by Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Daniel Williams, Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Hon. Keith Mitchell, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Tillman Thomas and a number of cabinet ministers, government officials, journalists, young people. Some Chinese delegations have also visited Grenada. It is noteworthy that a Chinese National People's Congress delegation just had a very successful visit here last month.

All these visits have increased the mutual understanding and friendship of our two peoples. In the fields of economy, agriculture, education, tourism, China and Grenada had good beginning of cooperation. The project of rehabilitation and expansion of the national stadium of Grenada by Chinese side has been started, and Chinese engineers and technicians are working very hard so as to guarantee the completion of the stadium on schedule. Chinese agricultural experts have been working in the La Sagesse Farm for several months, and have restored the devastated farm to a fairly good condition.

Local farmers have already and will continue to benefit from their mission. Six Grenadian students received scholarships from China and are now studying in Chinese universities. A Memorandum of Understanding between our two countries on the facilitation of group travel by Chinese tourists to Grenada was signed last July. The technical discussion on the project of 2000 low-income houses has began, a Chinese expert team will arrive in Grenada early this year.

Our two countries also have productive cooperation at the international arena in 2005. Last but not least, we have exchanged Ambassadors and established Embassies. As the biggest developing country in the world, China embarked on reform and opening-up in 1978. Since then, China has realized sustained economic growth and social progress. From 1978 to 2004, China's GDP grew from 150 billion to 1.65 trillion U.S. dollars with an average annual growth rate of 9.4%, and its annual import and export volume jumped from 20.6 billion to 1.15 trillion U.S.dollars.

The Chinese side highly values China-Grenada relations, and is ready to work in concert with the Grenadian side on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. I am confident that, as our relations move forward, China and Grenada will have more productive cooperation in the years to come.