- Brief introduction to your visit to China, the agenda and your goal?

First of all I would like to thank my Chinese colleague, Minister Yang Jiechi for his kind invitation to visit this great country. Today I had a privilege to be received by Vice-president Xi Jinping, whom I conveyed the congratulatory message of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to President Hu Jintao on the occasion of 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Taking this opportunity I would like to congratulate Chinese people on this remarkable date. During such a short period, specially taking into consideration five thousand years history of Great Chinese civilisation, which gave so much to the mankind in science, culture and human wisdom, during last 60 years China reached significant achievements and huge progress in its development.
    
Today we had substantial and very productive discussions with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on wide range of issues of bilateral agenda and perspectives of Armenian-Chinese cooperation in different fields.

The agenda of my visit includes political, economic and cultural dimensions. During the negotiations in Beijing I had a chance to discuss ways to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in bilateral format and multilateral frameworks. Further intensification of our political dialogue, exchange of high-level visits, cooperation in international organizations, different economic projects in such fields as energy, mining, chemical industry, agriculture, as well as cultural exchanges, cooperation in science, education and other issues were in the agenda of our negotiations.
 
During the visit, Memorandum on 20 mln yuans Chinese technical assistance to Armenia was signed in the Ministry of Commerce. We are grateful to China for its permanent support to our development programs.
 
Yesterday I had the privilege to be guest speaker at the China Institute of International Studies, where a thorough discussion on Armenia’s Foreign Policy took place. Tomorrow I’ll be in Shanghai, where a meeting is scheduled with the Organizers of Shanghai Expo – 2010, in which Armenia intensively prepares to participate.  

- Can you comment on Armenian – Chinese relations?

The first records about Armenian presence in China date to second century. In the times of Great Silk Road, which passed through Armenia, Armenian merchants were playing active role in bridging East and West. The old Manuscripts presented in Matenadaran - Armenian Manuscripts Museum are the witnessing this witnesses 

The new era of our relationship started, when Armenia became independent in 1991 and China was among the first countries that recognized Armenia’s independence and among the first ones to open Embassy in Armenia. We are proud of our enduring and time-tested friendship. We maintain a high-level political dialogue on the level of highest leadership. On international scene Armenia and China have similar or close positions Armenia and China have active interaction within international organizations. Cooperation between the parliaments is also on the rise.
There is a solid legal base for bilateral relations, we have signed about 40 agreements between our countries.

We implement different joint economic projects. Chinese companies participate in modernization and reconstruction of Armenian energy sector, they are present in mining, particularly copper-molybdenum extraction. In Chinese Shancy region, we joined our efforts to build the chloropren rubber producing plant and this fall the construction will be completed.  

The absence of direct flight between Armenia and China has certain negative impact on economic relations and I am glad that Armenia’s National Air carrier Armavia has an intention to establish a direct air connection with China.

The Intergovernmental commission has to play a major role in intensification of economic relations and its 6th session to be held in December must focus its activities on these issues.

We cooperate on the number of other fields from education and science to IT, healthcare and sport. Cultural exchanges between us are intensifying, in November Armenia will host Chinese cultural days, and we are planning to organize Armenian cultural days in China.

Last year Confucius Institute, the first and only one in the region, launched its activities in Armenia and we witness the rising interest in Chinese language and culture in our country.

 Armenia is very interested in comprehensive development of friendly relationship with China in all possible fields as our leadership stated in number of Joint Communiqués. The sustainable high-level political dialogue, development of legal framework and promotion of people to people contacts will further cement our mutually beneficial relations.