Vice Premier meets Cypriot parliament speaker

NICOSIA—Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met here Thursday with Cypriot Parliament Speaker Demetris Christofias, who said the two sides had reached a consensus on a wide range of issues.
“It’s hard to find any difference in our views. We can always reach a consensus on every issue,” Christofias told reporters after the meeting. Christofias said the two discussed the Taiwan issue, the Cyprus issue, the situation in the Middle East, especially in Iraq, and other issues of common concern. The Cypriot side reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy.
Hui, for his part, hoped that the Cyprus problem could be quickly solved. All nations, big or small, should enjoy peaceful coexistence, he added. Contacts and exchanges of visits between the National People’s Congress of China and the Cypriot parliament have contributed a lot to the overall development of the Sino-Cypriot relationship, Hui said.
He wished the two national legislatures could learn from each other in their experiences in law-making and supervision. Later Thursday, Hui visited the City Hall of Nicosia, where he was awarded the medal of the city for his contribution to the Sino-Cypriot relationship.
Hui arrived in Cyprus from Algeria Wednesday for a three-day official visit. He met Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and held talks with Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Fotis Fotiou. Two memoranda of understanding were signed, setting goals for future cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and environmental protection.
On Friday, the vice premier is scheduled to visit a citrus garden and a juice factory near the southern city of Limassol before leaving the Eastern Mediterranean island country. Cyprus is the second leg of Hui’s tour, which will also take him to Spain.Earlier, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos held talks with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu here on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing to further enhance the already robust relationship to a new level.
Papadopoulos spoke highly of the ties between Cyprus and China, who are “good friends and good partners” with mutual understanding. Based on traditional friendship, he pointed out, the two sides in the past years have reinforced cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, tourism and culture.
The president reiterated that Cyprus firmly sticks to the one-China policy. He added that Cyprus denounces all kinds of secessionist activities of the Taiwan authorities. Being a European Union member, Papadopoulos assured that Cyprus will do its best to promote the Sino-EU relationship, just as it did in the past. Hui, on his part, said that bilateral ties have witnessed fast development on economic and trade cooperation, while the mutual understanding and trust on political front have been reinforced. He added that China wants to make efforts with Cyprus in widening the channels of bilateral cooperation and promoting investments in each other’s country.
Referring to Sino-EU relationship, to which China has attached great importance, the vice premier voiced his belief that Cyprus will continue to play an active role in promoting the strategic partnership between China and EU countries. Later on Wednesday, Hui held talks with Cypriot Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Fotis Fotiou. Two memoranda of understanding were signed to set goals of future cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and environmental protection.—Xinhua