Foreign Trade Minister Dr Henry Jeffrey and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jungao on Friday inked a US$1.35 million grant for the implementation of bilateral co-operation projects.

The Chinese government has pumped various sums of money into economic and technical co-operation with Guyana but the specific areas where the sums will be expended are yet to be decided.

In brief remarks, the ambassador said the agreement was the second one signed this year. He said a $548 million grant agreement was inked with Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad when he attended the Second China/Caribbean Business Forum held in China earlier this year.

The ambassador said the two governments would join to ensure that the grants are best utilized on mutually agreed areas. He said the People’s Republic of China has assisted Guyana in many areas and it has received the most economic and financial assistance in the region.

In his address, Jeffrey said the government was appreciative of the grants. He told the ambassador that his ministry was yet to put modalities in place for which Chinese tourism could be introduced locally, in keeping with the agreement.

Jeffrey also thanked the Chinese government for its continued involvement in Guyana’s development and alluded to the Chinese volunteer experts currently here assisting in the health, agriculture, sports and mining sectors, training and bilateral co-operations projects.

He said the countries share very fertile relations.