From the Office of the Prime Minister ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14th, 2009_ The arrival of a nine member delegation from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) at the Maurice Bishop International Airport this morning, marked the first response to the official visit by Prime Minister, Hon. Tillman Thomas to Beijing in June, 2009. Prime Minister Thomas invited AVIC representatives to Grenada when he paid a courtesy call on the company in Beijing. Three months later a delegation from AVIC, headed by Mr. Gu Huizhong, Senior Vice President and a member of Decision-Making Board of China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Thomas at his Botanical Gardens office and presented to him a replica of an aircraft manufactured by the company. The ten member AVIC delegation also paid courtesy calls on the Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Peter David and Minister for Tourism Hon. Glynnis Roberts today. Members of the delegation will meet with aviation officials in both the public and private sectors, to discuss matters pertaining to aviation, energy and tourism. “I hope this visit will be the basis for AVIC to invest in Grenada and the Caribbean. We see this as important because it will improve the relationship between China and the region in the areas of trade and tourism,” the Prime Minister told the delegation, which also included Chinese Ambassador to Grenada, His Excellency, Zhang Wanhai. Mr. Huizhong said he was delighted to be in Grenada and that his delegation is looking forward to the discussions on various business activities with Grenadian officials. The AVIC delegation is: Mr. Gu Huizhong, Senior Vice President and a member of Decision-Making Board of China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), Mr. Zhou Jun Vice President of the Marketing and International Cooperation Department, AVIC, Mr. Dong Yuan, Project Manager of China Aviation Industry Corporation, Fu Shula, President of AVIC International Holding Corporation, Mr. Zhou Zhongyi - member of the Board Office of AVIC International Holding Corporation. Mr. Wu Guangquan - Vice President of AVIC International Holding Corporation and Managing Director of AVIC International Shenzhen Co.. Mr. Xu Weibin - General Manager of Jiangxi , CATIC GongQing City Industrial Co.,Ltd and General Manager , Jiangxi, Dingcheng Industry Co., Ltd. Mr. Zhang Guangjian is the Vice President of AVIC International Holding Corporation in charge of Aviation Business. Mr. Jin Xing, Vice President of Civil Aircraft Marketing & Sales Division. Ms. Xu Jing - China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation and engaged in exporting Chinese civil aircraft. During their three day stay in Grenada, the AVIC team will hold discussions with developers of several tourism projects, including the Levera Project, Mt. Cinnamon, Grand Harbour and Bacolet Bay, which were affected by the global economic downturn. The Chinese delegation will also meet with the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), GRENLEC and GRENSOL.