The support to the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of China and the Republic of Cyprus constitute the foundation of the common efforts and struggles of the two countries, Cyprus House President Marios Garoyian has stressed.
The Cypriot Speaker and a delegation from the House of Representatives comprised by Parliamentarians Yiannakis Thoma, Averof Neofytou, Andreas Angelides, Fedias Sarikas and Demetris Syllouris, held a meeting on Sunday in Tianjin with Zhang Gaoli, member of the political bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee. During the meeting, the Cyprus issue, the economic, commercial and parliamentary relations between Cyprus and China, were examined.
Garoyian told Gaoli, who paid an official visit to Cyprus last November, that since the last time he informed him on Cyprus issue, there has been no progress due to the Turkish intransigence and approach.
''Turkey's arrogance as well as its cynicism continue”, Garoyian said, noting that Turkey believes that due to the fact that it is a powerful country it can impose its conditions on other countries.
In addition, he stressed that the Greek Cypriot side will continue fighting for the reunification of Cyprus and its people on the basis of the UN resolutions and the values and principles of the EU.
Garoyian thanked Gaoli for China’s firm support on Cyprus issue and reiterated that Cyprus will continue to support the position for one China. The position, as he said, ''for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of China and the Republic of Cyprus. This is the foundation of our common effort, of our common struggles'', he pointed out.
Referring to the bilateral economic relations, Garoyian said that the two countries can further develop those relations and can discuss ways to enhance investments in Cyprus and China. ''We should see how mutual investments can emerge, how the industries can cooperate and how the Republic of Cyprus, as an EU member state, can assist Chinese businesses to expand in the EU and the Middle East'', he said.
In addition, he stressed that a possible establishment of direct flights between China and Cyprus will affect the economic relations of the two countries in a very positive way.
Gaoli called on the Cypriot and Chinese businesses to invest in China and Cyprus respectively.
He thanked House President and the Cypriot delegation for visiting Tianjin, noting that such visit, as also the visit he paid in Cyprus last November with a Chinese parliamentary delegation, will further enhance the relations between the two countries and their parliaments.
Earlier, Garoyian and the Cyprus delegation visited a pharmaceutical company in Tianjin, Tasly Group.
There, Garoyian called on the General Director of the Group to expand the company's activities to Cyprus. The General Director told the Cyprus House President that he will seriously consider his proposal.
Tasly Group is one of the ten biggest pharmaceutical companies in China.
The Republic of Cyprus, which became a full EU member state in May 2004, is divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37% of Cyprus' territory. UN – led Cyprus talks are underway between President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu with a view to reunify the country.
