ARMENIA TO DEEPEN TIES WITH CHINA, SAYS NALBANDIAN

Asbarez
/14/armenia-to-deepen-ties-with-china-says-nalband ian/
Sep 14, 2009

BEIJING (Xinhua)-Armenia is seeking a "comprehensive development" of
its friendly relationship with China in all possible fields, Armenian
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said Monday in an interview with
the state run Xinhua news service.

"During the negotiations in Beijing, I had a chance to discuss ways
to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in a bilateral format
and multilateral frameworks," said Nalbandian, who was in China for
a five-day official visit.

During his visit, Nalbandian met with Chinese Vice President XiJinping
and had "substantial" and "very productive" discussions with his
Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

He also conveyed the congratulatory message of Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian to the Chinese people on the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Armenia is proud of its "enduring and time-tested friendship" with
China, Nalbandian said, noting the historic ties between the two
countries and peoples.

"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.

He said Armenia and China have maintained a high-level political
dialogue at the highest levels of 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 have implemented many joint economic projects
together, Nalbandian said, noting how Chinese companies have
participated in the modernization and reconstruction of Armenia’s
energy and mining sectors, particularly in copper-molybdenum
extraction.

In north China’s Shanxi Province, he added, Armenia and China have
cooperated in building a chloroprene rubber production plant-the
construction of which is to finish this autumn.

Apart from economic cooperation, the two countries also work together
on a wide range of other sectors from education and science to IT,
healthcare and sport, Armenia’s chief diplomat said.

"Cultural exchanges between us are intensifying," as well, Nalbandian
said, adding that in in November Armenia will host Chinese cultural
days, and "we are planning to organize Armenian cultural days in
China."

Despite the current level of cooperation that exists, Nalbandian said,
the absence of direct flights between Armenia and China have "certain
negative impacts" on economic relations between the two countries. He
added that he was glad that Armenia’s national air carrier Armavia
intends on establishing direct flights to China.