|
Armenia is very interested in the comprehensive development of its friendly relationship with China in all possible fields, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan said here Monday in an interview with Xinhua.
"During the negotiations in Beijing, I had a chance to discuss ways to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in bilateral format and multilateral frameworks," said Nalbandyan, who was in China for a five-day official visit.
"The first records about an Armenian presence in China date to the second century," Nalbandyan said, " In the times of the Great Silk Road, which passed through Armenia, Armenian merchants were playing an active role in bridging East and West."
Armenia became independent in 1991 and China was among the first countries that recognized Armenia's independence and among the first ones to open an embassy in Armenia.
"We are proud of our enduring and time-tested friendship," Nalbandyan said.
He said Armenia and China maintained a high-level political dialogue at the level of highest leadership. The two countries had similar or close positions on the international scene.
"Cooperation between the parliaments is also on the rise," he said, adding there was a solid legal base for bilateral relations.
The two countries implemented many joint economic projects, Nalbandyan said, noting Chinese companies participated in the modernization and reconstruction of Armenian energy sector, such as mining, particularly copper-molybdenum extraction.
In north China's Shanxi Province, Armenia and China jointly built a chloroprene rubber producing plant and the construction would be completed this autumn, he noted.
The absence of direct flights between Armenia and China has had a certain negative impact on economic relations. Nalbandyan said he was glad that Armenia's national air carrier Armavia intended to establish a direct air connection with China.
Apart from economic cooperation, the two countries cooperated on a wide range of sectors from education and science to IT, healthcare and sport.
"Cultural exchanges between us are intensifying, in November Armenia will host Chinese cultural days, and we are planning to organize Armenian cultural days in China," he said.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Nalbandyan conveyed the congratulatory message of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to the Chinese people.
During his visit, Nalbandyan met with Chinese Vice President XiJinping and had "substantial" and "very productive" discussions with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
|
