China, Armenia vow to further ties

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan at the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian, Liaoning province, Sept 10, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

DALIAN - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan on Tuesday vowed to further promote the bilateral relationship and cooperation between the two nations.

The pledge came after a meeting between the two in Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Hailing the development of China-Armenia ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations 21 years ago, Li said China supports the Armenian people to choose their way of development, and will work with the country to expand reciprocal cooperation, on the basis of solid mutual political trust.

The premier called on the two countries to expand trade and economic cooperation, increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and explore new areas of cooperation, so as to lift the bilateral relationship to a new high.

Sargsyan said Armenia attached high importance to relations with China. He appreciated China's fair and justice stance on international and regional issues, and called for more exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

After the meeting, the two also witnessed the signing of agreements between the two countries on economic, trade and technological cooperation.

Sargsyan is in Dalian to attend the Summer Davos Forum, which is scheduled to open on September 11. Li will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a speech.

Summer Davos, also known as the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, is an annual gathering of business leaders, government officials and scholars from around the world. China has played host to Summer Davos, alternately in Tianjin and Dalian, since its inception in 2007.