State visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to China

President Serzh Sargsyan, who has paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), on March 25 held a meeting with PRC President Xi Jinping at China National Convention Center.

At the end of the negotiations, the Armenian and Chinese Presidents signed the Joint Declaration on Further Development and Enhancement of Friendly and Cooperative Relationship between the Republic of Armenia and the People’s Republic of China. Moreover, more than a dozen of documents were concluded aimed at the promotion and strengthening of mutual cooperation between the two countries in a number of areas, particularly the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Republic of Armenia and the People’s Republic of China, the Technical and Economic Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Framework Agreement on the People’s Republic of China’s Preferential Loan to the Republic of Armenia between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Aid in Customs Affairs between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Documents on Education and Scientific Degrees between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Memorandum on Promotion of Cooperation in Building the Silk Road Economic Belt within the Framework of the Armenian-Chinese Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the Agreement on Cooperation in Crime Prevention and Investigation between the Police of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, the Currency Swap Agreement between the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia and the People’s Bank of the People’s Republic of China, the Loan Agreement “The Project on Modernization of Customs Clearance Technologies and Equipment” between the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the RA Government, as a borrower, and Export-Import Bank of China, as a creditor, the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding on Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Projects between the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia and the National Energy Administration of China.

Prior to meeting with President Xi Jinping, President Serzh Sargsyan was hosted at one of the most progressive education centers of the PRC capital, Beijing N2 Secondary School, which has about 290-year-old history. It was organized in 1724 based on the school founded during the Tsin Empire. The school is considered to be one of the largest and most well-equipped schools in Beijing. The 95 percent of the alumni of this educational institution is admitted to the country’s best higher educational institutions. The school is also actively involved in international cooperation programs, including school exchange programs with a number of countries.

The Armenian President toured the educational institution, talked to its teaching staff and familiarized himself with the school’s everyday activities and educational programs, after which he made a note in its honorary guest book: “I am glad to be hosted at one of the most progressive educational centers of the PRC capital. I am confident that the representatives of the Chinese young generation which study here will continue China’s impressive and admirable series of successes and achievements which I have witnessed during all of my visits to China.

I think that it could be possible to utilize your school’s experience in the Advanced Chinese Language School to be built in Armenia on my own initiative. The educational center which will be set up with the help our Chinese friends will become a key guarantee to promote cooperation between Armenia and China.

I am confident that our two peoples who have millennium-old history will continue to develop and reinforce their ties and cooperation in an atmosphere of friendship and peace, realizing their visions for the future,” wrote President Sargsyan.

On behalf of PRC President Xi Jinping, an official dinner was held in honor of President Serzh Sargsyan who has paid a state visit to China.

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President Serzh Sargsyan on March 26 held a meeting in Beijing with Li Keqiang, Premier of the PRC State Council. The parties discussed a broad range of issues related to the deepening of bilateral relations in a number of mutually beneficial and promising areas and to utilizing the full potential of Armenian-Chinese collaboration for the benefit of the two friendly countries. Those areas include energy, transport, chemical industry, education, science, culture, agriculture, aviation, tourism, infrastructure development, as well as a number of other areas.

The RA President and the Premier of the PRC State Council attached great significance to the activities carried out by the Armenian-Chinese Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation in terms of functionalizing the bilateral cooperation in all agreed areas. According to the parties, the ordinary session of the inter-governmental commission to be held in this summer in Yerevan must embrace all the promising projects of Armenian-Chinese cooperation.

Serzh Sargsyan and Li Keqiang expressed satisfaction with the progress made in bilateral trade and economic relations in recent years. Despite the considerable increase in commodity circulation, which exceeds half a billion dollars, and the growth of exports from Armenia to China, the interlocutors agreed that, nevertheless, the two countries should continue to make new accomplishments and exert efforts to utilize the full economic potential aimed at attracting Chinese investments to Armenia’s economy and implementing joint programs.

According to President Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union also opens up new and wider opportunities to broaden Armenian-Chinese economic relations.

At the meeting, the parties placed importance on the high-level agreements made during the Armenian President’s state visit to China and on the cooperation documents concluded as a result of negotiations.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed once again the Chinese side’s initiative to restore the Great Silk Road and the targeted work being carried out towards it, to which, according to the Armenian President, Armenia could contribute. In that context, the interlocutors touched upon Chinese companies’ possible involvement in the construction projects of the North-South Road Corridor, the Armenia-Iran railway and a new nuclear plant.

With the aim of thoroughly discussing the opportunities for implementation of mutually beneficial programs in the areas discussed at the meeting, as well as in a number of other areas, the Premier of the PRC State Council instructed the minister in charge of those affairs to personally deal with the mentioned issues
Lastly, Serzh Sargsyan expressed his thanks to the Chinese government for the gratuitous assistance rendered to Armenia’s government which, according to the Armenian President, has produced vivid results and is highly valued by our people.

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As part of his state visit to the People’s Republic of China, President Serzh Sargsyan on March 26 visited Tiananmen Square, laid a wreath and paid tribute to the Monument to the People’s Heroes.

Later on, at the Great Hall of the People the RA President held a meeting with Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress greeted the Armenian President and underscored that in the Republic of Armenia, China has a reliable and good partner with which the dynamically developing political dialogue is based on mutual respect and trust. He attached importance to President Serzh Sargsyan’s state visit to China and the successful high-level negotiations with President Xi Jinping which, according to Zhang Dejiang, will give new impetus to bilateral relations, elevating them to a qualitatively new level.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress laid special emphasis on inter-parliamentary cooperation in deepening of collaboration in numerous areas of mutual interest and in further intensification of Armenian-Chinese ties. According to him, the two countries’ parliaments, legally reinforcing the agreements made between the Presidents, will greatly contribute to the development of political dialogue. Zhang Dejiang expressed satisfaction with the collaboration established with Armenia’s National Assembly.

President Serzh Sargsyan expressed his thanks for the warm words and hospitality and noted that Armenia regards its relations with China as one of the most important foreign policy priorities and places great value on the deepening of friendly relations with China – a country representing one of the world’s most ancient civilizations and an influential member of the international community.

The interlocutors agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, recent years’ successful cooperation and mutual support within the framework of international organizations have promoted friendship between Armenia and China and have built mutual trust. At the meeting, the parties also stressed the importance of inter-party cooperation which has been developing year after year.

Following the meeting with Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, President Serzh Sargsyan was hosted at the Old Summer Palace which makes up part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage. This is the best place to get familiarized with Chinese rich and diverse culture.

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President Serzh Sargsyan, who has paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China, was hosted on March 27 at one of the most prestigious education centers of China – Peking University. The Armenian President held a meeting with the university’s leadership team at the VIP hall. The interlocutors touched upon the friendship between Armenia and China and their cooperation in different areas, including education. Serzh Sargsyan made a note in the university’s honorary guest book: “I am confident that the guarantee of our peoples’ present and future success and prosperity lies in their long-lasting attention to science and education,” wrote the President.

Later on, Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with students and faculty members of Peking University. At the meeting, the Armenian President was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Peking University.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed his gratitude for the cordial hospitality and for being conferred such an honorary title and in his speech presented Armenia’s foreign policy dimensions and priorities, challenges and prospects.

The President also touched upon the current level of the dynamically developing relationship between Armenia and China, talked about the prospects for further enhancement and strengthening of bilateral ties and presented the results of his state visit.

Reflecting upon the dynamics of the Armenian-Chinese collaboration since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Serzh Sargsyan expressed satisfaction with the fact that relations with friendly country of China continue to develop dynamically, by embracing new areas year after year, which speaks of mutual interest. The Armenian President noted that that fact was confirmed by the Joint Declaration on Friendship, Cooperation and Further Development of Partnership Relations signed by him and PRC President Xi Jinping

According to the President, with that crucial document the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their traditional friendship, intensifying high-level mutual contacts and strengthening political dialogue, as well as cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, infrastructures, culture, education and tourism. I am confident that our countries will become partners who always help each other. The President assured that Armenia and China will be friends who always help each other.

“Throughout its entire history, Armenia has always lain on the borderline between the two worlds – the East and the West – which has made the Armenian people perceptible to both Europe and Asia. In our country people have special respect for China whose people have carefully preserved their rich historical and civilizational heritage and traditions for millenniums. At the same time, your country sets an example of such a state who owing to its right reform and development strategy has achieved enormous success and ranks high among the world’s leading states.

Today, the PRC is actively involved in the current developments in world politics and economy, thus greatly contributing to the maintenance of global peace and security. We also attach great weight to China’s continued engagement in regional processes in the South Caucasus.

China is a large country which has always developed its relations with other peoples based on the principles of equal rights and mutual benefit. Our comprehensive cooperation with the PRC is one of Armenia’s foreign policy priorities both in terms of volume and content.

Throughout these years, we have felt the friendly and all-inclusive support of the PRC government and its people: your country helped us address the socio-economic difficulties of the transition period and contributed to the development of our country,” said President Serzh Sargsyan.

The Armenian President expressed his satisfaction with the results of the constructive meetings and discussions held during his state visit to China.

“Armenia has welcomed the idea of building the Silk Road Economic Belt set forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping. As far back as the times of the Ancient Silk Road, Armenian goods and products used to be popular in Chinese markets, and Armenian trade vessels used to reach the eastern ports of Asia, particularly Hong Kong. I hope that the construction project of the Southern Railway which passes through the Armenian part of the present Silk Road will be one among those projects which are called to bring the mentioned idea to life.

In this regard, Armenia expects Chinese companies to be actively involved in the construction of the Armenia-Iran railway. It would ensure balanced development of the region which is fully consistent with China’s “Peace for the Sake of Development” slogan. Simultaneously, it would get the Chinese side actively engaged in the South Caucasian region, as well as would give impetus to the bilateral relationship between Armenia and China.

Our two countries also intend to broaden ties between our peoples, particularly pay special attention to the development of tourism which will allow us to get to know each other better and more closely. This could be achieved through the establishment of direct flights between Armenia and China; an issue which needs to be addressed by our countries’ relevant government agencies and enterprises,” said the Armenian President.

In his speech, Serzh Sargsyan touched upon Armenia’s foreign policy which is built upon mutual respect and interests, as well as upon shared responsibility and obligations which are directed at the creation of a climate to ensure political stability, security, solidarity and economic development in the region. Serzh Sargsyan stressed that Armenia is open to all countries for establishment and reinforcement of relations in such a manner.

The President also spoke about the regional issues and challenges in the South Caucasus, the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Armenia-Turkey relations, the importance of the Armenian Genocide Centennial and about the events marking that anniversary this year.

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President Serzh Sargsyan on March 28 took part in the Boao Forum for Asia, a prestigious international economic forum which was held under the “Asia’s New Future” slogan, touching upon the development perspectives of the global economy and the Asian region as its constituent part, as well as upon the issues and challenges. PRC President Xi Jinping delivered an opening speech. He welcomed all the participants of the forum, including heads of state and premier ministers, and wished the forum success and fruitful work.

President Serzh Sargsyan delivered a speech at the Boao forum.

At the end of the event, on behalf of PRC President Xi Jinping a reception was held in honor of the heads of the delegations participating in the forum.

As part of the Boao forum, President Serzh Sargsyan also held a private meeting with Premier Minister Stefan Löfvén of Sweden. Serzh Sargsyan and Stefan Löfvén discussed issues pertaining to the bilateral and multilateral relationship between Armenia and Sweden and their collaboration.