Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
China and Cyprus may be separated by thousands of kilometers, but the message inside the Hilton Nicosia on Monday evening was simple: distance has not stopped the two countries from growing closer.
President Nikos Christodoulides joined diplomats, officials, business leaders, members of the Chinese community, and other guests at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
“True friends have no distance; even thousands of miles apart, we remain neighbors." -H.E. Ambassador Yang (quoted from an old Chinese proverb)
The evening also served as an official welcome for China’s new ambassador to Cyprus, Yang Yundong, who arrived on the island about 70 days ago.
Addressing the reception, Yang thanked those who have supported relations between the two countries and extended National Day wishes to Chinese nationals who work, study, and live in Cyprus.
He said the presence of Christodoulides made the occasion particularly significant.
A relationship with practical benefits
This year also marks 55 years of diplomatic relations between China and Cyprus and five years since the two countries established a strategic partnership.
For ordinary Cypriots, the relationship is increasingly visible beyond formal diplomacy. China now allows Cypriot citizens to travel under its unilateral visa-free policy, making visits easier for tourists, businesspeople, and those with family or professional ties to the country.
Trade is also growing. According to the ambassador, the value of goods traded between Cyprus and China reached a record $1.44 billion last year.
The two countries are also building closer cultural and educational links. Yang pointed to Chinese Film Week, held in Cyprus earlier this year, as well as the Confucius Institutes at the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology.
He also highlighted the Centre for China Studies, established jointly by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and European University Cyprus, and the growing cooperation between sister cities in the two countries.
China restates support on the Cyprus problem
One of the most important points for the Cypriot audience was China’s position on the Cyprus problem.
Yang said China continued to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, while Cyprus remained committed to the one-China policy.
“China has resolutely taken a just stand on the Cyprus problem,” he said, adding that Beijing firmly supports the efforts of the Cypriot government and people to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China’s presence on the island is also visible through the United Nations peacekeeping force. Yang noted that Chinese peacekeepers have served in Cyprus as part of Beijing’s wider contribution to UN missions around the world.
He described China as the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping and the biggest provider of peacekeeping troops among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Cyprus praised for its role in Europe
The ambassador also praised Cyprus for what he described as its constructive role in relations between China and the European Union.
He said Cyprus strongly supported closer China-EU ties during its presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of the year, something he said Beijing “highly appreciates.”
Looking at China’s domestic development, Yang said the country’s economy grew by 4.7% in the first half of 2026, keeping it among the fastest-growing major economies despite global pressure.
He also highlighted China’s progress in areas including manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, robotics, and space technology. China, he said, remains committed to opening its economy and expanding cooperation with countries around the world.
On foreign policy, Yang said China favors dialogue over confrontation and partnerships over military alliances. He also underlined Beijing’s support for the United Nations and its stated commitment to peace, security, and fairer global governance.
“True friends have no distance”
Yang said his first weeks in Cyprus had been filled with meetings across government, business, society, and the diplomatic community.
He said he had been deeply impressed by the warmth he received and by the strong desire on both sides to expand cooperation.
The ambassador closed his remarks with an ancient Chinese saying that captured the spirit of the evening: “True friends have no distance; even thousands of miles apart, we remain neighbors."
Guests then raised their glasses to China’s 77th anniversary, the friendship between the Chinese and Cypriot peoples and the next chapter in relations between the two countries.
