We are ready to cooperate with our Armenian friends to elevate our relations to a higher level - Chinese envoy

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China was solemnly celebrated at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Armenia.

China's Acting Chargé d'Affaires in Armenia, Chen Ming, in his welcoming speech, noted that over the past three quarters of a century, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party, had long searched for a path through continuous struggle, and had finally successfully found a model of Chinese modernization suited to the country, creating a new form of human civilization and leading the nation toward a great renaissance.

"Openness is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. While some countries are severing ties and disrupting supply chains, openness is becoming a 'scarce phenomenon' in today's world. China remains committed to an open foreign policy, sharing the benefits and opportunities of development with the global community. China advocates for equal and orderly multipolarity and for comprehensive and inclusive economic globalization. China promotes the development of the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative, establishes a global network of high-standard free trade zones, develops platforms for international economic cooperation, and fosters a competitive business environment grounded in market, legal, and international principles," said Chen Ming.

He reminded that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the declaration of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Over the years, the aforementioned principles have become the main norms of international relations and fundamental principles of international law, receiving wide recognition and application by the international community.

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and China. Friendly relations between the two countries continue to develop in a healthy and stable manner.

 According to Chen Ming, since the onset of the pandemic, a new level of high-level interaction between Armenia and China has emerged.

According to him  the practical cooperation between the two sides opens up new opportunities.

"In the first half of this year, bilateral trade between Armenia and China exceeded 1.4 billion US dollars, marking an increase of more than 40 percent compared to the previous year. The number of Chinese tourists who arrived in Armenia reached approximately 11,500, which is 1.1 times more than last year. Earlier this month, China Southern Airlines launched a direct flight from Urumqi to Yerevan for the first time, establishing the first direct air service between China and Armenia. This initiative further facilitates travel for citizens of both countries based on a reciprocal visa-free regime," said China's Acting Chargé d'Affaires in Armenia.

The diplomat reminded that the Yerevan Municipality recently acquired a batch of Chinese buses, and well-known Chinese brands such as BYD, Haier, and Jetour have opened specialized stores in Armenia.

"The Chinese government continually supports Chinese companies in actively exploring foreign markets and engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation. It also encourages strong and reliable Chinese companies to invest in Armenia, contributing to the country's development and economic growth striving for common prosperity.

China and Armenia are both historically ancient civilizations, and the peoples of both countries strive for peace, respect traditions. Day by day, more and more young people in Armenia are choosing to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture. The Confucius Institute is actively developing and playing an important role in promoting Chinese language learning and cultural exchange. On the international stage, China and Armenia, as developing countries, jointly uphold the goals and principles of the UN Charter,” he said.

“Official Beijing highly values the steadfast support of the Armenian side for the "One China" principle. We are ready to cooperate with our Armenian friends to promote our traditional friendship, work together, and elevate our relations to a higher level in order to bring greater prosperity to the peoples of both countries," concluded China's Acting Chargé d'Affaires in Armenia, Chen Ming.