The upcoming visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People`s Republic of China Wang Yi to Cyprus will further consolidate the traditional friendship between China and Cyprus, push forward mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and bring bilateral ties to a new high, the Ambassador of China in Nicosia Liu Xinsheng has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs will pay on December 21 an official visit to Cyprus, during which he will be received by the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and have a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides.
The Ambassador told CNA that Wang`s visit to Cyprus “is another important event in our bilateral relations,” and that during the visit, the two sides will exchange views on China-Cyprus relations, the Cyprus issue and other issues of mutual interest.
He noted that China supports the negotiations between the two communities of Cyprus and maintains that the Cyprus issue should be settled in a comprehensive way on the basis of relevant UN resolutions.
The Ambassador said that China and Cyprus are true friends and good partners. “Political trust between our two countries has always been solid. `One China, One Cyprus` is our common catch phrase,” he added.
He said that “our bilateral relations are developing in a sound and steady way” and that “pragmatic cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results.”
Liu recalled that President Anastasiades “paid a successful visit to China in October this year”, noting that the visit was “of great significance in promoting the development of bilateral ties.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been engaged in UN-led negotiations since May this year with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/MK/MM/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY