China to make further efforts to develop relations with Armenia -  Chinese MP

ArmInfo.Armenia views relations with China as one of the important foreign policy priorities, which is included in the RA government program for 2021-2026. Vice- Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan stated this in Beijing during a meeting with Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee on External Relations of the National People's Congress Shohrat Zakir.

According to the press service of the RA National Assembly, the  Armenian parliamentary delegation consisting of Hakob Arshakyan,  Andranik Kocharyan, Lena Nazaryan, Taghui Ghazaryan, Hayk Tsirunyan,  Gegham Nazaryan is in the PRC at the invitation of the Chairman of  the Foreign Relations Committee of the National People's Congress of  China, Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group China-Armenia by Lu  Qingjian.

During the meeting with Shohrat Zakir, the Vice Speaker of the  National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia noted that  Armenian-Chinese trade and economic cooperation is developing at a  high pace.  Arshakyan welcomed China's active participation in the  development of the South Caucasus, which has a positive impact on the  stability and security of the region. He emphasized that Armenia  remains faithful to the principle of "one China." The vice speaker  emphasized that Chinese companies are showing interest in  participating in infrastructure projects that are of critical  importance for the development of the Armenian economy, including  both international tender and investment projects. Thus, companies  from China are actively involved in large projects being implemented  in Armenia, such as the construction of the North- South highway and  the Kaps reservoir.

Arashakyan noted that the North-South highway is of vital importance  for Armenia; it is part of the "Crossroads of the World" concept put  forward by the RA government. Both sides emphasized the importance of  the "Crossroads of Peace" and "One Belt - One Road" initiatives.

The NA Vice Speaker emphasized that Armenia seeks to expand its  participation in regional structures of multilateral cooperation.  From this point of view, the need for high-quality development of  cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation  Organization was emphasized.

The meeting presented the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process and  regional developments, as well as the agreements reached on border  delimitation and demarcation based on the Alma-Ata Declaration of  1991. 

"Our region needs long-term peace. The peace agenda has no  alternative. Compliance with the principles of international law,  territorial integrity and sovereignty are an important basis for its  approval," said the NA Vice Speaker.

Speaking about the need to establish long-term peace in our region,  he noted that China respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty  and independence of Armenia, as well as the right to make independent  decisions in foreign relations.

Shohrat Zakir expressed condolences over the recent natural disaster  in the Lori and Tavush regions of Armenia and expressed China's  support for the reconstruction of the disaster area.

The vice chairman of the National People's Assembly Committee  emphasized the importance of developing friendly relations between  China and Armenia, noting that additional efforts will be made to  further develop existing relations.