The Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, discussed on Friday with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Cyprus, Yang Yundong, in a meeting that took place at the Ministry of Finance, the potential for further strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, education, information and communication technologies (ICT), agriculture, shipping, green finance and tourism. The Ambassador was paying a courtesy call following his assumption of duties.
According to a press release by the Ministry of Finance, the meeting focused on the bilateral relations between the two countries, which this year mark 55 years of diplomatic relations and five years since their upgrade to a Strategic Partnership, as well as on the prospects for further strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation, also in view of the planned visit of the President of the Republic to China in early 2027.
Keravnos conveyed the gratitude of the Republic of Cyprus for China's steadfast support, as a permanent member of the Security Council, for a comprehensive, just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem. He referred to the positive course and resilience of the Cyprus economy, as reflected in the recent assessments of the international rating agencies, and to bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries, noting that there is scope for a further increase in Cypriot exports to the Chinese market.
The two sides discussed the potential for further strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, education, information and communication technologies (ICT), agriculture, shipping, green finance and tourism. The Minister of Finance also raised the updating of the Double Taxation Agreement, which dates back to 1990.
On his part, Yang Yundong expressed his satisfaction with the level of bilateral relations and the readiness of the Chinese side to further strengthen cooperation with Cyprus in these areas, the press release says.
According to the press release, the two sides agreed to maintain an open channel of communication and to promote concrete initiatives for the benefit of the economies and the peoples of the two countries.
