Top Chinese leaders and visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan agreed Tuesday that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in economic, technological and other areas

Top Chinese leaders and visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan agreed Tuesday that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in economic, technological and other areas. Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said China is ready to work with Armenia to broaden their cooperation in legislature and many other areas. China's top legislator described Armenia as a bridge linking Asia and Europe, a country with a long history and rich cultural heritage. He stressed that China attaches great importance to developing its relations with Armenia. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Armenia is an "important partner of cooperation" and a "reliable friend" of China in the Caucusus region. "China supports the efforts of the Armenian government to maintain social stability and promote economic development," Wen said. "China is ready to have wide-ranging and in-depth cooperation with Armenia on the basis of mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit." China-Armenia trade reached 4.75 million US dollars in the first half of 2004, up 88.7 percent from the same period last year. A bilateral scientific and technological cooperation commission has selected 15 upcoming projects for cooperation. Wen said China hopes the joint commission will help tap more potential for cooperation and bring relations to a higher ground. Kocharyan said both Armenia and China agree that each country has the right to select its own approach to development and its own way of life. He said Armenia is glad to see the cooperation between the two sides and expects good results.