BEIJING, China (CMC) — China says it is willing to align development strategies with Grenada and expand cooperation with the country in such areas as new energy, the digital economy and the blue economy to enhance China-Grenada mutually beneficial cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the suggestions in talks with the visiting Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell here, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

It said Li noted that over the past 20 years since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Grenada, both sides have upheld mutual respect and equality, maintained close high-level exchanges, and expanded pragmatic cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Li said China will work with Grenada to consolidate political mutual trust, provide firm support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, and continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields to elevate bilateral relations to a new level.

The Chinese Premier said that his country is also willing to align development strategies with Grenada, adding that based on the joint efforts in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the two sides should deepen cooperation in traditional sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and healthcare, while expanding cooperation in emerging fields, including new energy, the digital economy and the blue economy.

“China encourages qualified Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Grenada,” Li said, adding that China is ready to assist Grenada and other Caribbean countries in climate adaptation to promote the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.

Li said China will work with Grenada to jointly safeguard the interests of the Global South, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

In his address, Prime Minister Mitchell commended China’s remarkable contributions to poverty alleviation, which are exemplary, particularly for developing countries.

The official Xinhua news agency said the visiting prime minister also expressed appreciation for China’s long-standing support and assistance in Grenada’s economic and social development and praised China’s role in leading the development of the Global South.

He said Grenada will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle, adding that the country supports the three major global initiatives proposed by China, and will enhance multilateral coordination and cooperation with China.

Grenada severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be a renegade province. In the Caribbean, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines are the only Caribbean Community (Caricom) relations with Taipei.

Both China and Taiwan have accused each other for years of using “dollar diplomacy” in their struggle for diplomatic recognition.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in areas including jointly building the Belt and Road, economy, trade, green development, culture, media and climate change, the official Xinhua news agency reported.