By Trevor Thwaites (Inside Grenada Correspondent)

ST.GEORGE, Grenada - Eight months after re-establishing Diplomatic Relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) the relationship has grown tremendously. An elated Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, made the disclosure while speaking at a recent sending off ceremony for four local students who will be starting studies in the PRC in September along with another five, who were also given a rousing send off last Friday.

At the start of the new academic year, 15 Grenadians will be pursuing higher education studies at Universities in China compliments the Chinese Government. Six began studies last year. This, according Prime Minister Mitchell, is a significant milestone in the relationship with China. “When this government made the decision to re-establish relations with China, the fundamental basis was that this action was for the mutual benefit of both the Peoples Republic and Grenada”, Dr Mitchell said.

He indicated that the decision was indeed the correct one. “We have seen the results of the relationship in many respects whether it is in agriculture, potential tourism development, sports or infrastructural development.” Prime Minister Mitchell made mention of the National Stadium at the Queen’s Park being built by the government of China for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup as a huge milestone in the ties. “I am proud of this relationship and what we have achieved so far”, he commented.

Dr Mitchell said that the relationship is growing fast and making tremendous progress in every respect. “I am particularly proud of that decision and today’s award is further testimony of the vision that was displayed by re-establishing that important relationship”, he remarked. China has meanwhile pledged to work closely with the government and provide firm support to help rebuild Grenada in the aftermath of the two recent disasters.

Chinese Ambassador to Grenada, His Excellency Qian Hongshen, has commended the government on its efforts to rebuild the country especially in the areas of education and youth development and has pledged more assistance in the area of education, which he said is the driving force for economic development. “China is willing to provide more scholarships to Grenadian students to study at universities in China. At the same time we will explore other ways of corporation in education”, Ambassador Hongshen said.