Cyprus is fully prepared to promote all-round relations with China in the 21st century, said Andreas Pirishis, permanent secretary of the Cypriot Foreign Ministry.

"Sino-Cypriot relations have been progressing very satisfactorily in all fields, including the economy, trade, politics, culture and diplomacy," Pirishis said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, expressing the belief that bilateral relations will grow ever stronger in the years ahead. Pirishis is here on a week-long visit for regular diplomatic consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. Pirishis has already discussed with Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Ji Peiding Sino-Cypriot relations and other international matters. He said the two sides reached a consensus on major issues Cyprus will continue to adhere to the one China policy, he stressed.

Calling his visit a follow-up to Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides' China visit in June last year, Pirishis said his visit had provided a good opportunity for the two sides to inform each another of the latest developments in each country, and exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

He said he was happy with the smooth development of bilateral relations in a variety of areas, underlining the "satisfactorily progressing" commercial exchanges between the two countries. The trade volume between China and Cyprus recorded an increase of 26 percent in 1999 on a yearly basis, according to Pirishis. A dance troupe from northwest China's Gansu Province has been invited to participate in an international art festival to be held in Cyprus in September, he said, adding that the Cypriot people have been impressed by the performances of Chinese acrobatic artists, and more Chinese acrobatic troupes will be invited to perform in Cyprus in the future.

With regard to Sino-Cypriot cooperation in the UN, he said both countries share the same foreign policy philosophy, including respect for the principles of international law and the UN Charter, and stand for reinforcing the role of the UN, especially the UN Security Council, in safeguarding peace, he said.

He said he believed that mutual respect for sovereignty is an important stabilizing factor for world peace.

Sino-Cypriot relations are a unique case of state-to-state relations, because they have shown good cooperation despite differences in size and power and other aspects, he said. Pirishis also praised China's efforts to further promote cooperation among developing countries.