ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN EEU OPENS UP NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR EXPANSION OF ARMENIAN-CHINESE ECONOMIC RELATIONS

YEREVAN, March 26. / ARKA /. Armenia’s membership in the
Eurasian Economic Union opens up new possibilities for expansion
of Armenian-Chinese economic relations, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said at a meeting with Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang
today, Sargsyan’s press office said.

The two men were said to have noted with satisfaction the progress
in bilateral trade and economic relations. According to the parties,
despite the significant increase in trade turnover that was worth last
year more than half a billion US dollars, and the growth of Armenian
exports to China, the countries should continue efforts to fully use
the available economic potential, to increase Chinese investment in
Armenia and implement joint programs.

They also discussed a set of issues on how to enhance Armenian-Chinese
cooperation in energy, transport, chemical industry, education,
science, culture, agriculture, aviation, tourism and infrastructure
sectors, the press service said.

It said Sargsyan and Li Keqiang emphasized also the work of the
joint Armenian-Chinese commission on trade and economic cooperation
saying the agenda of the next meeting of the commission to be held
in Yerevan in summer should include long-term Armenian-Chinese
cooperation projects.

Sargsyan once again welcomed the Chinese initiative to restore the
Great Silk Road saying Armenia can also contribute to that effort. In
this context they spoke about the projected Armenia-Iran railway and
the possible participation of Chinese companies in the construction
of a new Armenian nuclear power plant.

Serzh Sargsyan thanked the Chinese government for a 60 million Yuan
($9.7 million) donation that will be used to build a new pavilion
for Armenian Public Television.

Armenia’s foreign trade turnover with China in 2014 was $588, 4
million, an increase of 29.4% from the previous year. -0-