Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Thursday in Nicosia that his country would make new efforts to enhance the existing good relations with China.

The remarks were made during a meeting with Tian Congming, President of China's official Xinhua News Agency, who is paying a visit to the country.

Papadopoulos said he was looking forward to his forthcoming visit to China, which is expected to take place in early December, saying that he believed that his visit would further promote "the important and good relations" with China.

The President said the past few years had witnessed rapid development of the relations between the two countries in various fields on the basis of equality and mutual respect, noting that the two countries had been supporting each other in the United Nations and other international organizations.

Papadopoulos briefed Tian on the latest development of the Cyprus issue and expressed thanks to the Chinese government for its principled support on the Cyprus issue.

He stressed that Cyprus would adhere to the one-China policy and continue to support the lifting of the European Union (EU) embargo on arms sales to China.

For his part, President Tian Congming said both Cyprus and China are countries with long history of civilization and hailed the remarkable achievements by Cyprus in its economic and social development in recent years.

Tian said he believed his visit to Cyprus would contribute to the mutual understanding and cooperation between Xinhua and Cyprus News Agency and other press institutions.

Tian also expressed his welcome to the forthcoming visit to China by the Cypriot President, saying that Xinhua would fully cover his activities in China and publicize the fruitful results of the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Tian Congming also visited Cyprus News Agency earlier in the day.

Tian and his delegation arrived here on Wednesday at the invitation of the Cyprus Press and Information Office.

Source: Xinhua