Thursday, 17 February 2011
Prime Minister meets with Chinese foreign minister
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received today Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. An official dinner was hosted in honor of the guest.
Welcoming the Foreign Minister, Tigran Sargsyan appreciated the ongoing political dialog between the two countries and the reciprocated high-level contacts in the in political, economic and cultural spheres. As he evoked his recent visit to China paid in the framework of Shanghai Expo - 2010 world exposition, the head of the Armenian government said to have kept warm memories of both those meetings with the Chinese authorities and the exposition itself.
Thanking the Prime Minister for a warm welcome, the Chinese foreign minister conveyed warm greetings on behalf of the head of Chinese government and the Chinese vice premier.
Both sides said to be pleased with the tangible progress toward the furtherance of bilateral relations. The interlocutors looked at the prospects of cooperation in the fields of power engineering, chemical industry, agriculture, tourism, culture and education.
Tigran Sargsyan highlighted the launch of Shansi - Nairit JV by stressing that new joint initiatives might be implemented on this basis. He pointed out the need for using the untapped potential in trade turnover. Mindful of ensuring continued furtherance of economic ties, Yang Jiechi spoke on the possibility of boosting Armenian exports to China.
Underscoring the steps toward encouraging mutual investments, the parties referred to the interest of the Chinese side in the construction of Iran-Armenia railroad. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister appreciated the role of the Armenian-Chinese intergovernmental commission in the development of bilateral ties. They agreed that the next sitting of the commission should be held in Yerevan.
The necessity of establishing direct air communication between the two countries, exchanging students and implementing educational projects was emphasized on either side.
Yang Jiechi expressed gratitude for simplified visa requirements available to the citizens of China. In turn, Tigran Sargsyan appreciated the continued assistance provided to Armenia.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan felicitated Yang Jiachi on the Day of Torches marked today in China and asked to forward his greetings to PRC Prime Minister Jiabao.
