Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met with visiting senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on Saturday, with the two sides pledging to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.
Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Anastasiades have reached an important consensus on the further development of China-Cyprus relations during a recent phone conversation and jointly decided to upgrade China-Cyprus relationship to a strategic partnership.
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said the two sides should take this opportunity to strengthen strategic mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, actively expand the cooperation on such areas as economy and trade, telecommunications, transportation, and clean energy, and promote cultural and educational exchanges to promote greater development of the bilateral ties from a new starting point.
The senior Chinese diplomat said China supports all parties strictly abiding by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.
China is confident about hosting a "streamlined, safe and wonderful" Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, he said, adding that China welcomes Cypriot athletes to participate in the event.
Yang said China stands ready to work with all European countries, including Cyprus, to uphold mutual respect, expand cooperation, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.
For his part, Anastasiades described his recent phone conversation with President Xi as "very successful", noting that the establishment of the Cyprus-China strategic partnership marks a new milestone in bilateral ties.
Cyprus firmly adheres to the one-China policy, he said, adding that his country will remain committed to the concepts of mutual respect, equal treatment and mutual benefit to deepen bilateral relations.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, Anastasiades said Cyprus stands ready to work with China to strengthen high-level exchanges and cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, culture, tourism and education to promote further development of bilateral relations.
Cyprus is willing to actively play a constructive role to support the European Union in strengthening dialogue and cooperation with China, he said.
Yang also met with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides.
(Cover: Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (center left) meets with visiting senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi (center right) in Cyprus, December 4, 2021. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)