Armenia is expected to learn from China's largest commercial city and encourages its businessmen to invest here as soon as possible, said Armenian President Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan on Wednesday.

Kocharyan arrived in Shanghai from Beijing on Tuesday to continue his five-day state visit to China. It is the first state visit to China by Kocharyan as president.

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng met with Kocharyan, telling him that the city has maintained "healthy, stable and rising momentum."

Trade between China and Armenia has been increasing in recent years, and the trade volume in the first eight months rose by 529 percent compared with the same period of 2003.

During his stay in Beijing, Kocharyan and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed a joint statement in which Armenia recognized China full market economy status.

Source: Xinhua