President Serzh Sargsyan delivers speech at Peking University

President Serzh Sargsyan, who has paid a state visit to the People’s Republic of China, was hosted today 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.

President Serzh Sargsyan today left Beijing for Sanya to take part in the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference 2015 where the Armenian President will deliver a speech.