As part of the strengthening of ties between Beijing and Nicosia, the Chinese leadership has decided to cancel entry visas for citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.
In the context of the excellent bilateral relations between Cyprus and China, the Chinese government has decided to cancel visas for Cypriot citizens, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Nikos Christodoulidis during their latest meeting, which took place in New York on the margins of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
Cypriot government spokesman Constantinos Letimpiotis, who accompanied the island head of state on his trip to New York, said that this decision by Beijing is practical proof of the strengthening of bilateral relations. He added that the Cypriot president and the Chinese foreign minister also welcomed the Cypriot-Chinese interstate agreement signed in Nicosia on the same day to further facilitate air links between the countries, which will allow the launch of direct flights from Larnaca to Beijing and Shanghai.
According to Letimpiotis, Christodoulidis and Wang Yi discussed the Cyprus problem, as official Nicosia is making efforts to restart settlement talks on the island, halted in 2017. In particular, the Cypriot president briefed the Chinese foreign minister on the outcome of his recent meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres on finding ways to resume inter-communal dialogue.
As one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, China has always supported Cyprus, supports our national issue, based on principles and values, - emphasised the official representative of the government of the island state.
Note that the basis for this decision was laid back in 2019. The draft treaty between the two countries was signed during the visit of President Nicos Anastasiades to Beijing. All details regarding the innovations will be announced in the near future.