Your Excellency AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou,

Your Excellency Attorney General George Savvides,

Your Excellency Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos,

Your Excellency Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Yiannis Panayiotou,

Your Excellency Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou,

Your Excellency Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Theodora Constantinidou,  

Distinguished guests,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Kalispera! Let me begin by expressing my heartfelt thanks to all of you for attending my farewell reception.

In October 2020, during the COVID period, I arrived in Cyprus to assume office as the 14th ambassador of China to Cyprus, entrusted with the noble mission of elevating China-Cyprus relations to new heights. Five years have passed quickly, and as my tenure will soon conclude, I am welled up with emotions. 

President Xi Jinping pointed out that China is ready to work together with European friends to build a bridge of friendship and cooperation. In the same vein, all the work that I have done over the past five years, in short, has been about strengthening and expanding the bridge of friendship and cooperation between China and Cyprus. Thanks to your strong support and joint efforts, the China-Cyprus relationship has secured steady progress and registered one highlight after another. I am very proud of it.

First, the China-Cyprus political mutual trust has grown ever stronger. President Xi Jinping and President Nikos Christodoulides both attach great importance to China-Cyprus relations and have personally steered its advancement. In 2021, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, our bilateral relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership. The two sides have firmly supported each other’s core interests and major concerns. Cyprus resolutely upholds the one-China principle, while China has continued to play a constructive role in helping address the Cyprus problem.

Together, our two countries uphold multilateralism and international law, and jointly promote world peace and progress. In this way, we have set a very good example of handling relations between countries of different sizes and social systems. Cyprus has also played a unique and indispensable role in fostering the healthy development of China-EU relations, which the Chinese side highly appreciates.

Second, the China-Cyprus practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results. In 2019, our two countries signed an MOU on Belt and Road Cooperation. Since then, our bilateral trade in goods increased from 918 million US dollars in 2020 to 1.15 billion US dollars in 2024. In the first ten months of this year, the figure already reached 1.18 billion US dollars. China is now Cyprus’ fourth largest trading partner and third largest source of imports. For eight consecutive years, Cyprus has participated in the China International Import Expo, bringing Cypriot products such as juice and wines to households across China.

At the same time, Chinese enterprises have strongly supported Cyprus’ digital transformation, helped Cyprus set up faster mobile networks, and build power plants and vessels, thus contributing to the economic and social development of Cyprus. In addition, judicial and law enforcement cooperation between our two countries has secured new progress as well.

Third, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have flourished. The past five years have witnessed the successes of many events, including the China-Cyprus-Europe Media Forum, the China-Cyprus Youth Forum, and the Nicosia Book Fair with China as the Guest of Honor. The collection of China-Cyprus friendship stories and the Cyprus Mail special edition of the Mirror of Culture have had widespread impact.

The Confucius Institutes at the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology, as well as the China Studies Centre jointly established by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the European University Cyprus, continue to thrive. The China-Cyprus Sister City Alliance has set a new model of “one on many” and “many on many” sister city cooperation, and created a multidimensional platform for subnational interactions, especially concerning cultural exchanges and practical cooperation.

It needs to be pointed out that since October last year, the Chinese government has piloted a visa-free policy for Cypriot citizens. As a result, an increasing number of Cypriot friends are visiting China, experiencing firsthand a country with both profound tradition and youthful dynamism.

Friends,

Over the past five years, I have keenly felt that the China-Cyprus friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of our peoples. President Christodoulides and House President Demetriou stressed on multiple occasions that China and Cyprus are good friends that share common principles and values, with which I fully agree.

During the COVID period, our two governments and peoples stood by each other in solidarity. In daily life, when Cypriot people, even strangers, heard that I come from “Kina”, they would share the birthday cake with me, offer me a glass of zivania, and the kids would greet me with bright smiles.

Over these five years, I have fallen in love with this island. I visited amphitheaters, monasteries, and villages, where I could feel the weight and continuity of the civilization. I strolled along the coast, ventured into the Troodos Mountains, and admired the island’s unique natural beauty. I tasted delicious kleftiko and halloumi—flavors that linger long after the meal. I shall always treasure these countless beautiful memories.

Here, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to friends from the Cypriot government, parliament, political parties, the business community, think tanks, the media, and all sectors of society. Thank you for your valuable contributions to the development of China-Cyprus relations and for your strong support for our Embassy. My sincere thanks also go to my colleagues in the diplomatic corps. Throughout these five years, I have felt your friendship, warmth, and genuine assistance every step of the way.

I would also like to extend my deep appreciation to the Chinese community in Cyprus, including overseas Chinese, Chinese enterprises, teachers, and students. You have moved in step with the motherland’s development and with the shared future of China-Cyprus relations. You have made positive contributions to increasing the mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples, and played an irreplaceable role in advancing China-Cyprus relations.

China’s diplomacy is for the people. Putting people first is the original and abiding mission of Chinese diplomats. The Chinese Embassy will continue to maintain close contact with you, provide effective consular protection and services, and safeguard your legitimate rights and interests. Though far from home, your motherland is always behind you, and our Embassy is your home in Cyprus.

At the same time, it is hoped that you will continue to carry forward the fine tradition of diligence and resilience of the Chinese nation, abide by the laws of both China and Cyprus, actively integrate yourselves into the local society, and proactively uphold China’s good reputation in the world. You are also expected to serve as bridges for China-Cyprus cooperation in all fields, and make new contributions to the economic development of Cyprus, as well as to the development and national reunification of China.

Friends,

The recently concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted the recommendations for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, setting out a grand blueprint for China’s economic and social development over the next five years. The plan emphasizes advancing reform and development through opening-up, and sharing opportunities and pursuing common development with the international community. This will create even broader prospects for China’s cooperation with countries around the world, including Cyprus.

In 2026, China and Cyprus will celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 5th anniversary of our strategic partnership. Cyprus will also assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of next year. These milestones bring new opportunities and new prospects for the growth of China-Cyprus and China-EU relations.

In a world fraught with turbulence and transformation, we need to build more bridges and enhance mutual understanding. It is hoped that more friends from China and Cyprus will help build bridges for deeper and broader bilateral cooperation, and that Cyprus will continue to build bridges for the sound and steady development of China-EU relations. This will bring our two countries even closer, make our cooperation more substantive, and further deepen our friendship.

Last but not least, let me once again express my heartfelt thanks for your companionship and support over the years. Wherever I go, I will always closely follow the growth of China-Cyprus relations. I sincerely wish that the China-Cyprus strategic partnership will continue to flourish and the friendship between our peoples will grow ever stronger! I wish all of you and your family good health and happiness! Thank you.