Hon. Minister Kate Lewis,

Mr. Garvey Louison, President of Grenada-China Friendship Association,

Dear Friends from Grenada Overseas Chinese Association, Grenada-China Alumni Association, Media,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning/ afternoon.

I am very pleased to attend the Grenada-China Friendship Day, to meet with friends who are promoting the friendship between our two countries and two peoples. As Christmas Day and New Year are coming soon, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I also extend my gratitude to the host, Grenada-China Friendship Association for giving us this opportunity to sit together for a better and in-depth exchange. Thank you, Mr. Louison.

Today is just like a family reunion, a family of friendship. In recent years, our family of friendship grew bigger from time to time. We have had more family members. The Grenada-China Friendship Association was established in 2005, which has the same long history as the resumption of our diplomatic relations. The Grenada Overseas Chinese Association was established in 2016. The Grenada-China Alumni Association was established in 2018. Nevertheless we share the same vision, working hard to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and Grenada, to ensure our two peoples understand each other better, to promote the bilateral relations to a higher stage.

As an old Chinese saying goes, “Amity between people holds the key to sound relations between states”. These years, our bilateral relations developed in a healthy, smooth and comprehensive way, the exchanges and cooperation in such various areas as politics, economy, culture, law enforcement, education, media and sports continued to deepen. It would not be possible without your support and contributions.

Since I came to Grenada 1 year and a half ago, wherever I go, I could feel the sincere and deep friendship that Grenadian people extended to Chinese. The people-to-people friendship lays solid foundation for our two countries; it is an important part of bilateral relations. Dear friends, you either have visited China, studied in China, or do business with Chinese partners. You have a better knowledge and understanding for Chinese people better than other Grenadians. I believe you are able to promote and contribute more to our friendship and cooperation. As a new era of connectivity has come, our two governments signed a MOU of cooperation under the frame of Belt and Road Initiative last September, which opened a higher level of cooperation. Let’s work together and play our due role for a brighter future for our two peoples.

2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. The most rapid and spectacular progress has been achieved in the past four decades. Thanks to that policy, China has created a miracle of economic and social development, with 740 million people being lifted out of poverty, which is also a major contribution to the world. China’s economic growth over the past 40 years has been achieved with a commitment to opening-up. In the same vein, high-quality development of China’s economy in the future can only be guaranteed with greater openness. China’s door will never close. It will only open still wider. China will not stop its efforts to pursue higher-quality opening-up! China will not stop its efforts to pursue an open world economy! And China will not stop its efforts to pursue a community with a shared future for mankind!

Sincerely wish you good health and every success in the future and may China-Grenada friendship last forever!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!