By helping Grenada draft a national development strategy, China has demonstrated its soft power, as well as its willingness to offer experience in development and aid to other nations.

“Helping other nations to design a national development plan is a demonstration of our soft power. It is an equal and friendly gesture from China to [other developing countries],” Chen Fengying, a research fellow at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told People’s Daily Online.

According to South China Morning Post, the Chinese foreign ministry noted in December that China Development Bank, at the request of the Grenadian government, is helping them draft a multibillion dollar national development strategy. The Grenadian government assumed the primary responsibility for the development of their own country, while China provided necessary assistance to their economic and social development upon request.

“China has already provided many development plans for several African and Southeastern Asian countries. It’s important to notice that those plans were made upon request, not by China’s initiative,” said Chen.

“By requesting such a national plan from China, Grenada has acknowledged the success of China’s development, believing that China’s experience is suitable for their country. This doesn’t mean that Grenada has to accept all Chinese concepts, but to extract what is suitable for their national situation,” Chen added.

Grenada has long showed its willingness to receive aid from China. According to information from Chinese embassy in Grenada, China signed a contract with Grenada in 2016, offering the latter non-reimbursable assistance and technological aid. And in 2017, the country accepted professional personnel training aid from China.