In a move to enhance the relationship between Beijing and Nicosia, the Chinese leadership has made the decision to eliminate entry visas for citizens of the Republic of Cyprus.
During their most recent meeting in New York, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi informed Nikos Christodoulidis of the Chinese government's choice to remove visa requirements for Cypriot citizens, citing the strong bilateral ties between Cyprus and China.
Accompanying the president of Cyprus on his visit to New York, government spokesman Constantinos Letimpiotis praised Beijing's decision as a tangible demonstration of the deepening relationship between the two nations. He further noted that both the Cypriot president and the Chinese foreign minister welcomed the signing of an interstate agreement in Nicosia on the same day to expand air travel between the countries, facilitating direct flights from Larnaca to Beijing and Shanghai.
Letimpiotis highlighted that during the meeting, Christodoulidis and Wang Yi also discussed the Cyprus issue, with official Nicosia striving to restart settlement talks on the island that had been suspended in 2017. The Cypriot president briefed the Chinese foreign minister on his recent discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to explore avenues for resuming inter-communal dialogue.
As a permanent member of the Security Council, China has consistently backed Cyprus and our national cause on the basis of principles and values, reiterated the government representative of the island state.
The groundwork for this decision was set in 2019, with the initial treaty between the two countries being signed during President Nicos Anastasiades' visit to Beijing. Further specifics about these changes will be disclosed soon.