Xi meets Cypriot president

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in Beijing, capital of China, April 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

China and Cyprus have set an example of equal treatment and mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small countries in the international community, Xi said.

The two sides should continue to support each other's core interests and major concerns and expand areas of bilateral cooperation, Xi said.

China is ready to deepen cooperation with Cyprus in port, maritime transportation and infrastructure construction, and discuss exploring third-party cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Xi noted, voicing the hope that the Cypriot side can continue to play an active role in promoting the development of China-Europe relations.

Anastasiades said the Cypriot side will adhere to the one-China policy and actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

He said that Cyprus will continue to be an important partner of China in the European Union, and that he hopes China can support the United Nations peacekeeping force in continuing operations in Cyprus.