Nikos Christodoulides used a meeting with China’s vice-president in New York to reaffirm Cyprus’s backing for the One China policy and thank Beijing for its support on the Cyprus problem, as the two countries marked 55 years of diplomatic relations.
The Cyprus president met Han Zheng on the sidelines of events in New York on Friday, with both sides describing the relationship as a model of international cooperation.
Christodoulides said he valued China’s stance at the UN Security Council on the Cyprus problem, and reiterated what he called Cyprus’s clear position in support of the One China policy.
He said he was looking forward to a visit to China in early 2027 to build on the relationship, which this year marks 55 years since diplomatic ties were established.
Christodoulides also referenced the two countries’ shared national day, noting Cyprus marks its independence on 1 October, the same date as China’s national day, and said he had attended an event hosted by China’s ambassador in Nicosia before travelling to New York.
He described Cyprus and China as strong supporters of multilateralism, saying the two countries needed to keep working together to uphold international law and the UN Charter amid what he called a difficult and challenging international environment.
Han said the two countries’ relationship had maintained steady development despite differences in political systems, traditions and culture, and marked what he called the fifth anniversary of a strategic partnership between the two states. He said China was ready to deepen cooperation with Cyprus, including on multilateral issues, for mutual benefit.
