YEREVAN. - Armenia’s PM Hovik Abrahamyan today attended the official reception marking the 66th anniversary of the National Day of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

During the event, Abrahamyan made a speech, congratulating the Chinese Ambassador to Armenia, Embassy staff, as well as Chinese people and their authorities and wishing them personal happiness and new achievements.

According to the PM, strong friendly relations have been established between the two countries since Armenia’s independence. He also noted that Armenia and China have a high-level political dialogue, which allows discussing any issues of bilateral interest.

“The official visit of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan to China upon the invitation of PRC President Xi Jinping had a great significance for the enhancement of Armenian-Chinese ties. The meeting of the heads of two states greatly contributed to raising the interstate relations to a qualitatively new level,” he said.

Abrahamyan also referred to his recent working visit to China, during which he met with the PM of China’s State Council Li Keqiang, discussing a wide scope of issues on Armenian- Chinese cooperation.

The PM also noted that developing relations with China is one of the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy. According to him, the recent years have seen a considerable growth in trade and economic relations, China already becoming Armenia’s second trade partner.

“New prospects of cooperation are opening in the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt project. Being one of the transit routes linking Europe and Asia for years, Armenia is ready to foster the projects between the region and China, link China with Europe, as well as contribute to the establishment of a free trade zone between the Eurasian Economic Union and China,” Abrahamyan said.

The PM also referred to the Armenian-Chinese active cooperation in the humanitarian, as well as cultural, scientific and educational spheres. He stressed the importance of the project on the construction of a new Chinese-teaching school in Yerevan, which, in his words, “will definitely contribute to the strengthening of friendship between our people.”