Xi calls for advancing ties with Grenada

President Xi Jinping called on Monday for China and Grenada to draw up a new blueprint for the long-term and high-level development of bilateral ties, after Beijing's relations with the Caribbean island country had developed successfully over the last two decades.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Prime Minister of Grenada Dickon Mitchell, his first foreign guest in the new year. Mitchell arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a seven-day official visit, which will also take him to Zhejiang province and Shanghai.

Grenada, located in the eastern Caribbean Sea with an area of 344 square kilometers and a population of about 110,000, resumed diplomatic relations with China in 2005.

In recent years, China-Grenada relations have developed steadily, with the two sides consolidating political mutual trust and achieving fruitful results in practical cooperation in areas such as trade and the economy, as well as education and agriculture.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018. According to statistics from Chinese Customs, bilateral trade in 2023 exceeded $24 million, up 13.1 percent year-on-year.

Xi told Mitchell that China is willing to work with Grenada to better align their development strategies and push for more outcomes of bilateral cooperation to better benefit the two peoples.

As China's development brings new development opportunities to Grenada and other countries, Xi said that China will provide assistance for the island country's socioeconomic development within the South-South cooperation framework and foster new highlights of bilateral cooperation in new energy, low carbon, the digital economy and other fields.

China supports Grenada in improving its capabilities in climate change response and disaster prevention and mitigation, and will continue to raise international awareness of small island countries' concerns over climate change and their demands, he added.

Xi also urged the two sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and tourism to promote mutual understanding between their peoples.

He noted that China has always attached great importance to its relations with Caribbean countries and will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to countries in the region to aid their economic and social development.

Mitchell said his country firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

Hailing China as the leader of the Global South, Mitchell said that China always upholds equality among all countries regardless of their size, respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and acts on its commitments on global affairs.

The Grenadian leader also extended sincere condolences to the Chinese government and people over the recent earthquake in Dingri county in southwestern China's Xizang autonomous region.

Noting that the earthquake occurred in a high-altitude area, Xi said that China has completed rescue and temporary resettlement work in the shortest possible time and will carry out reconstruction work as quickly as possible.

The Chinese government is confident and capable of achieving victory in earthquake relief, Xi said.

Premier Li Qiang, who hosted a welcoming ceremony for Mitchell on Monday, said during their talks that China is ready to work with Grenada to maintain the good momentum of bilateral ties and keep expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas to bring China-Grenada relations to a new level.

They witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents on jointly building the Belt and Road, economy and trade, green development and other areas.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, also met with Mitchell on Monday.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn