Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with visiting Grenadian Foreign Minister Elvin Nimrod in Beijing Thursday to formalize the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

"The resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Grenada conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the people from both countries," Tang said.

Tang started the hour-long talk with a heartfelt congratulation to Nimrod, as the Sino-Grenadian ties severed in 1989 were formally resumed when Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Nimrod signed a joint communique Thursday afternoon.

China now has diplomatic relations with 166 countries around the world, Tang said.

"China cherishes its relationship with Grenada and is willing to boost Sino-Grenadian ties on the basis of the United Nations Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," he acknowledged.

Given that both are developing nations and face a common task of developing economy and improving people's life, more cooperation should be encouraged and strengthened, Tang said.

Nimrod said, "Today marks a very historic moment. Grenada is willing to develop long-term friendly and cooperative ties with China.

"The Grenadian government recognizes that there is only one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government to represent the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China," he said.