CHINESE PRESIDENT AND ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MET IN PEKING

PanARMENIAN.Net - 05.12.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and the President of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Jiang Zemin discussed today in Peking issues of Armenian-Chinese cooperation.

Jiang Zemin assessed as positive the development of Armenian-Chinese relations after diplomatic relations were established between Peking and Yerevan in 1992. Jiang Zemin noted that the joint communique on establishing friendly ties between PRC and Armenia, signed in 1996, laid a firm basis for the development of cooperation between the two countries. The parties discussed questions of cooperation in trade-economic, political and other spheres between Armenia and PRC.

Andranik Margarian met yesterday with Premier of State Council of People's Republic of China Chzhu Zhuntsi. During the talks the Chinese Premier underscored readiness of the Chinese government for the development of multilateral Armenian-Chinese relations and said that China sees Yerevan as a "reliable partner in bilateral cooperation".

Margarian invited Chzhu Zhuntsi to visit Armenia. As RIA Novosti reports, the delegation of the Armenian Defense Ministry, which is also visiting PRC together with the Armenian government delegates, held a number of meetings with representatives of Chinese Armed Forces. -0-