On September 23, 2019 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi firstly conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Nicos Anastasiades. Wang Yi said, in April this year, Mr. President travelled to China for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, during which President Xi Jinping and you reached important consensus on further promoting China-Cyprus relations, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations. China and Cyprus, though geographically far apart, are countries with time-honored histories and ancient civilizations. Remaining committed to safeguarding multilateralism and the international system with the UN at its core, the two sides have set an example of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small countries in the international community. Appreciating the Cypriot side's understanding and support for the Chinese side's core interests and major concerns, the Chinese side will also continue to support the Cypriot side's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and security. The Cypriot side is welcome to participate in the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Chinese side hopes that the Cypriot side will continue to play an active role in advancing the sound development of China-Europe relations.

Nicos Anastasiades asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi Jinping. Expressing congratulations on the complete success of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation again, Nicos Anastasiades said, thanks to the concerted efforts of both sides, Cyprus-China relations have reached a new level. The Cypriot side is committed to further expanding cooperation with China in various areas including maritime transportation and trade, and promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The memorandum of understanding on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative signed by Cyprus and China is of great significance for bilateral cooperation in the future. The Cypriot side hopes to maintain close communication with the Chinese side to further tap into the potential of bilateral cooperation and speed up the building of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Cypriot side will continue to firmly adhere to the One China policy, support the Chinese side's legitimate position on issues concerning its national sovereignty and reunification, and continue playing a positive role in strengthening Europe-China relations.