January 20th, 2023 marks the 18th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Grenada, and 2 days later, Chinese people around globe will celebrate the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Rabbit. The past 18 years witnessed significant enhancement in the friendship between our two nations, featured by fruitful results born in our cooperation, and the year just passed also saw important events held in both countries. Therefore, these important occasions give us opportunities to review the past in order to better welcome the future.
In October 2022, the Communist Party of China (CPC), the ruling party of China, finished one of its most important agenda in the past decade, namely successfully convening its 20th National Congress. An ambitious blueprint has been drawn for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, sounding a clarion call of the times for the Chinese people forging ahead on a new journey. The Chinese economy has remained the second largest in the world and enjoyed sound development. GDP for the whole year is expected to exceed 120 trillion yuan (about 17.2 trillion USD). China has consolidated its gains in poverty elimination and advanced rural revitalization across the board. Despite the sea changes happened over the past decade, I urge my Grenadian friends to rest assure that China’s attitude to the world remains unchanged: China cherish peace and development and value friends and partners as we have always done. We stand firm on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization and progress. We work hard to contribute China’s wisdom and solutions to the cause of peace and development for all humanity. China will adhere to the policy of opening up, firmly pursue an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and continuously provide new opportunities for the world.
Changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, and the world is not yet a tranquil place. However, faced with challenges, it delights me to see that Grenada also made steady progress in 2022. It registered a 6% GDP growth for the whole year, scaled back its debt rate, invest heavily in protecting the livelihoods of the common people, and most importantly, set off its transformation agenda for the nation. I congratulate Grenadians for all these achievements. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell emphasized in his New Year’s Message, “a prosperous and more resilient Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique benefits us all and creates the brighter future that we all want for our children—and their children.” Vision for the future of the nation and putting people first will underpin the development of Grenada, and I would like to say that Grenada’s focus on the well-being of the people and national development largely matches Chinese government and the CPC’s ideas in good governance, creating opportunities for us to exchange views and cooperate even more closely.
As the Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching, we will be welcoming the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese Zodiac. The rabbit is recognized by the Chinese as a quick-witted animal that represents harmony, kindness, earnestness and good luck. With the accomplishments China and Grenada achieved last year, how would the astute rabbit push forward the relationship between our two countries on the solid basis, as it “comes of age”? I would like to make a few observations:
First, we should further enhance political mutual trust with earnestness. For years, leaders from both China and Grenada have been exchanging congratulations on special occasions, and the two countries have rendered each other staunch support on issues that concern our core interests. Both our two nations hold that the sovereignty and territorial integrity should be fully respected and gross interference in other countries internal affairs is unacceptable. The Grenadian Government issued a statement to re-confirm Grenada’s support to the One-China Principle and backed China on various international affairs, and China recognizes Grenada’s concerns in global governance issues, among which stands out climate change. Next year, we sincerely expect more cooperation between our two countries in multilateral arenas.
Second, we should level up our practical cooperation with kindness. Over the past 18 years, China has been providing assistance to Grenada in many fields, including housing, agriculture, infrastructure, education, health, youth, sports, etc, with kindness and the belief in common development of all humanity. In 2022, major bilateral practical cooperation projects have born heavy fruits—the three-year Technical Cooperation Project of the National Athletics Stadium was successfully completed and the stadium operates well. The Phase Two low-income housing project has been finished and successfully handed over to the Grenadian government, pending distribution—the maintenance team is also standing by in St David; the agriculture technical cooperation Phase Eight began in October, timely meeting the transformation agenda of the new government, and upgrading project of Maurice Bishop International Airport is progressing smoothly, which is expected to be completed this year. A Chinese expert team is now in Grenada to technically inspect the Cricket Stadium and to finalize the design for the Renovation Project. Besides, the Chinese Embassy in Grenada, in cooperation with local Grenadians, has implemented several social development projects at the community level, ranging from building bridges, refurbishing basketball courts, lighting playing field, etc, all widely welcome by the people. I am confident that all these projects will benefit people around the nation. If the kindness of the rabbit is any guide, then you would see China continue to support Grenada within its capacity in 2023, and coordinate with the transformation agenda of the Grenadian Government.
Third, we would be able to step up people-to-people exchange thanks to shrewdness. People-to-people exchange is indispensable in deepen the friendship between our two nations as we appreciate the culture and life-styles of each other. However, due to the COVID-19, travelling from Grenada to China has almost been suspended for the past 3 years, but we are optimistic that it will be re-energized as the protocols in China changed recently. Starting from January 8, 2023, COVID-19 is managed as a Class B infectious disease in China, and border control measures has been adjusted accordingly. China-bound travellers, holding negative nucleic acid test results within 48 hours before boarding their flights to China, will be free from quarantine after landing. The re-opening of China will surely be a boon to the world economy and undergird world supply chains. However, China has gone this far through hardship. For the past 3 years, China had adopted the principle of putting people’s lives first in fighting against the pandemic. It not only maintained the world’s lowest infection rate and death rate, but also provided more than 2 billion doses of vaccines and other materials to the world. Earlier this year, 20,000 doses of China-donated Sinopharm vaccines were put into use in Grenada, and 3 batches of medical supplies and 200,000 USD medical aid in cash were provided by China for the Grenadian government, helping protecting people’s lives. Now, as the virulence of the virus has weakened, China has tided over the hard times, and is optimizing its COVID-19 protocols to meet the people’s need for a normal life. This is a decision made based on science and is responsible for the Chinese people. Currently, China is in the gear-shifting period, and the rise in COVID-19 cases is inevitable, but with the foundations laid in advance, China has the confidence that it will finally overcome the impact of the virus. In the year 2023, we will be welcoming the Chinese government scholarship awardees and short-term courses trainees to China.
“Let us allow cultural exchanges to transcend estrangement, mutual learning to transcend clashes, and coexistence to transcend feelings of superiority. Let us all join hands to meet all types of global challenges.” This is the call of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the world. As the Zodiac animals is a culture heritage that many Grenadians find interesting, elements in the Grenadian culture will also find its place among the Chinese people. As we celebrate the 18 anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Grenada on the eve of Year of the Rabbit, I wish to hail our precious friendship and seek some “good luck” from the rabbit to safeguard our future cooperation for the benefits of our two nations and two peoples.
