Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Zhao Yali has described the value of trade exchanges between Cyprus and China during the first nine months of 2007 as historic, noting that they reached 505.6 million dollars.
Furthermore, Zhao said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1971, trade recorded an increase of about 83%.
Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of the Euro-China Business Week, an exhibition of Chinese products and services, Zhao said imports to Cyprus from China reached 500.3 million dollars in the period from January to September 2007, recording an 80% increase, while exports from Cyprus to China reached 5.3 million dollars, recording an increase of 154% compared to the same period last year.
Zhao expressed certainty that the exhibition would contribute to the further enhancing of cooperation between the two countries in the commercial and economic sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Director of the Cyprus-Chinese Business Association Andy Nathanael said the exhibition was very important and noted that it was the result of the Chamber’s efforts to attract investors from China to exploit the geographical position of Cyprus.
President of the exhibition’s Organising Committee and Chairman of the International Merchandising Centre (IMC) Board of Directors Andreas Kaisis said the event was part of the broader policy of IMC and the CCCI to contribute towards establishing Cyprus as a regional business centre, adding that the exhibition presented a large variety of Chinese products, services and new technologies for export.
The Euro-China Business Week is organised by the IMC, in the framework of the Euro-Chinese business week from November 19 to 25, with the participation of about 200 companies from China. Among the exhibitors are chambers such as the Wenzhou International Chamber of Commerce, the Xiamen International Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of Shandong Businesses, and the Made in China Association (MICA), which promotes exports.
A conference and workshop will also be held in parallel with the exhibition with distinguished speakers on interesting themes, such as renewable energy sources and the commercial relations between Cyprus, Greece and China.
