Press Releases

It is with great pleasure that I am here today to join the celebrations on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the People’s Republic of China.

Over the course of its history, China has gone through extraordinary domestic developments with clear vision and foresight. Its unprecedented economic performance, its bold evolution in infrastructure and science, its leading role in technology, and manufacturing; all of these amount to a journey that yielded growth, success and prosperity to the Chinese nation.

Today, the People's Republic of China constitutes a major power, with significant outreach on global governance and international affairs. It maintains an increasingly active role in international institutions and multilateral organisations, contributing to both sustainable development and to conflict and peaceful resolutions.

While much still needs to be done to secure true peace, equality and justice for all mankind, I am pleased that the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Cyprus endorse and actively uphold the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

As two ancient civilisations that have weathered many turbulent periods, Cyprus and China embody the spirit of resilience, adaptability, and innovation. Despite the geographical distance, our two countries share a solid, time-tested friendship.

The bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and the People's Republic of China witnessed a sound momentum in recent years. Frequent exchanges of high-level visits, constructive and results-oriented cooperation across the board, advancing trade and economic ties; all of these have further solidified our bonds and produced substantial benefits for our people. My goal as President of the Republic of Cyprus is for this relation to further flourish, by investing in areas that also advance people-to-people contacts, such as education, tourism, sport and youth.

At the multilateral level, our countries continue to enhance their cooperation in the framework of the United Nations and other international organisations. This is a natural development stemming from our mutual belief of the importance of multilateralism: the best tool for advancing fruitful synergies and confronting crises. It also derives from our unfaltering dedication to the key guiding principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of all states.

As I have repeatedly stressed, reunifying my country and its people, ensuring that Cyprus remains a force of stability and prosperity in this very turbulent region, has continued to be my biggest priority since day one of my election as President of the Republic of Cyprus. I am convinced that ending the division and reunifying the island will be beneficial not only for the security and progress of Cyprus, but also for the broader region.

It is in this context that I wish to express, once again, my sincere appreciation for China’s long-standing and principled support on the Cyprus problem. China’s commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the Republic of Cyprus has been unwavering, so has its clear and invaluable support at the United Nations Security Council. Myself and all Cypriots are truly grateful for that. 

At the same time, I would be remiss not to mention the Republic of Cyprus’ consistent and steadfast support to the One China Policy.

As a European Union (EU) member state, Cyprus is a strong proponent of the advancement of EU-China relations. Even when different approaches arise, EU and China constitute important partners, seeking to pursue stable and mutually beneficial relations, particularly through the EU-China high-level political dialogue. I truly believe that by working together, China and the EU will be better positioned to tackle various regional and global challenges.

In closing, let me reiterate my firm belief that, in the years to come, the Republic of Cyprus and the People's Republic of China will further solidify their bilateral relations, scaling new heights to our growing, future-oriented friendship.

With these thoughts, allow me to raise my glass to the good health of President Xi Jinping, to the prosperity of the people of the People’s Republic of China, and to the friendship between Cyprus and China.

(RM/AP/MS)