It is a great pleasure to join you this evening as we celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

This special anniversary invites us to pause between yesterday and tomorrow: to reflect on the journey that has brought China to where it stands today and to honour the remarkable journey of our bilateral relations.

The scale of the transformation China has undergone over the past decades is profound. Its economic development, scientific achievements and technological innovation have reshaped the country itself but also made their mark beyond its borders.

Today, China stands as a major power, a Permanent Member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and an important partner in addressing the challenges of our increasingly interconnected world. Its voice and contribution are increasingly important in shaping the international response to the global challenges of our time.

Yet, for Cyprus, this evening carries an added significance – one that goes beyond the story of China’s development.

This year, our two countries celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations. Fifty-five years of dialogue, cooperation and friendship.

Over these five and a half decades, our friendship has grown steadily deeper and broader. Political dialogue has flourished, cooperation has expanded into an ever-wider range of fields, and enduring bonds have been forged between our two peoples.

In 2021, our relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. Today, we can celebrate how far this relationship has come, while looking ahead with confidence to the future.

Our economic relationship has the potential to grow further. Trade and investment are important areas of cooperation, while shipping is a promising partnership between two countries with proud maritime traditions.

Cooperation in fields such as tourism, education and culture, research and innovation, renewable energy and new technologies can foster new collaborations – bringing our universities closer together, creating new business opportunities, offering our young people the possibility to meet and share experiences.

Friendships between countries are not built by Governments alone, nor measured only in figures and trade flows. They are mainly built by people. When understanding grows between peoples, friendship takes root and blossoms.

If our people-to-people ties are the heart of our relationship, our shared commitment to the principles of the international order is the political foundation.

Since 1971, Cyprus and China have built a relationship founded on a shared commitment to the fundamental principles of the international order: sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the UN. Today, we enjoy close cooperation within the UN, supporting multilateralism and the central role it plays in safeguarding peace and stability.

At a time of profound geopolitical tensions, the principles of the UN Charter must remain the compass that guides our collective action.

Sovereignty matters. Territorial integrity matters. International law matters.

For Cyprus, these are not abstract principles. They are woven into the very fabric of our history and the collective memory of our people.

We extend our sincere gratitude for China’s longstanding support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and its contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

We value China’s principled position on the Cyprus problem, including in its capacity as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council and its support of our efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement, firmly anchored in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the agreed UN framework.

The status quo cannot be the future of Cyprus and its people. Therefore, we remain fully committed to the resumption of substantive negotiations and to a viable settlement that will enable all Cypriots to live together in a reunited European country – peaceful and prosperous.

At the same time, the Republic of Cyprus remains firmly committed to the One China Policy, both in our bilateral relations and in multilateral fora. This remains a clear and long-standing position of our foreign policy.

Commitment to dialogue, cooperation and a rules-based international order guides our approach to European Union (EU)–China relations. There is much we can achieve together – from trade and investment to climate change and sustainable development, and to advancing cooperation where our shared interests call for practical solutions and collective action.

During our Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of this year, we worked to strengthen the Union’s international engagement with key partners. Cyprus will continue to advocate for a constructive and mutually beneficial EU–China relationship – one that recognises different views where they may exist, while keeping sight of the interests and responsibilities we share.

Fifty-five years have given our friendship roots that run deeper than geography. Let the next 55 years take us further – towards an ever-stronger partnership.

In this spirit, I raise my glass:

To the peace and prosperity of the Chinese people.

To the enduring friendship between Cyprus and China.

To the 55 years behind us – and to the years still to come.