by Linda Straker
- China cut off diplomatic ties with Grenada in 1989
- Grenada and China resumed diplomatic relations on 20 January 2005
- Grenada delegation visits China to observe 20th anniversary of resuming diplomatic relations
A meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping is on the agenda when Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and a delegation visit China to observe the 20th anniversary of Grenada and the People’s Republic of China resuming diplomatic relations.
The delegation includes Agriculture and Economic Development Minister Lennox Andrews and Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Andall who are scheduled to depart on 9 January 2025.
“I want to announce to the public, myself and the foreign minister and the minister for economic development together with a delegation will be travelling to the People’s Republic of China on 9 January to mark the 20th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between both countries,” he said while wrapping up his first interview with Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN) on Monday night as a guest on the weekly “Beyond the Headlines” programme.
“I will be the first head of state to be visiting China for 2025 and I will be having an audience with President Xi Jinping himself. We will be looking forward to marking what is a significant occasion between diplomatic relations with Grenada and China,” said the prime minister. “China has been a steadfast partner to Grenada and the developing world, since our resumption of diplomatic relations,” he added.
Grenada and China resumed diplomatic relations on 20 January 2005 when Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Grenada’s then Foreign Minister Elvin Nimrod signed a joint communique. China cut off diplomatic ties with Grenada in 1989 when Grenada opted to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China describes as a renegade province.
During the meeting to sign the joint communique, Li said then that the resumption of diplomatic ties marks the arrival of a new phase for the development of Sino-Grenadian relations and paves the way for the 2 countries to make cooperation in an all-round way. He said then that the Chinese government “is willing to cooperate with Grenada, in line with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, in such fields as politics, economy, trade, culture and education,” and that he hoped the 2 sides would “increase personnel exchanges, strengthen mutual understanding and political trust, and send ambassadors and set up embassies to each other at an early date.”
Li also said that the normalisation of the Sino-Grenadian relationship conforms with the fundamental interests of the 2 peoples, and it will strongly promote the exchanges and cooperation between the 2 countries in various fields.
Since the resumption of diplomatic ties, China has invested millions into Grenada through infrastructure and other developmental projects including building 2 national stadiums, constructing over 600 apartments, providing scholarship and training in various fields and professions, and building community centres and recreational facilities.
