Chinese leaders, Armenian president stress technological cooperation
Xinhua news agency
28 Sep 04
(New China News Agency)
Beijing, 28 September: Top Chinese leaders and visiting Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan agreed here Tuesday [28 September] that
the two sides should strengthen cooperation in economic, technological
and other areas.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, said China is ready to
work with Armenia to broaden their cooperation in legislature and
many other areas.
China’s top legislator described Armenia as a bridge linking Asia and
Europe, a country with a long history and rich cultural heritage. He
stressed that China attaches great importance to developing its
relations with Armenia.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Armenia is an “important partner of
cooperation” and a “reliable friend” of China in the Caucusus region.
“China supports the efforts of the Armenian government to maintain
social stability and promote economic development,” Wen said. “China
is ready to have wide-ranging and in-depth cooperation with Armenia
on the basis of mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit.”
China-Armenia trade reached 4.75m US dollars in the first half of 2004,
up 88.7 per cent from the same period last year.
A bilateral scientific and technological cooperation commission has
selected 15 upcoming projects for cooperation. Wen said China hopes
the joint commission will help tap more potential for cooperation
and bring relations to a higher ground.
Kocharyan said both Armenia and China agree that each country has
the right to select its own approach to development and its own way
of life. He said Armenia is glad to see the cooperation between the
two sides and expects good results.
The Armenian president added that there are no political disputes
between Armenia and China. Armenia wishes to expand cooperation with
China in agriculture, mechanics, science and technology, traditional
Chinese medicine, education and service sectors.