Qingdao, Shandong province [Photo/VCG]

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Armenia, Qingdao in East China's Shandong province and Yerevan, capital of Armenia, established friendly cooperation city relations, contributing to the ties between the two countries.

On June 16, the two sides signed an agreement on the establishment of friendly cooperation city relations via online channels. The signing ceremony was overseen by officials from both cities and ambassadors from both nations.

Sergey Manassarian, Armenian ambassador to China, said in his speech that the traditional friendship between the two countries goes back to ancient times and Armenia attaches great importance to relations with China.

He also expressed hope that the establishment of friendly cooperation city relations between Qingdao and Yerevan will continue to expand and deepen cooperation and enhance people-to-people ties between the two nations.

Fan Yong, China's ambassador to Armenia, said that the Qingdao-Yerevan friendly cooperation city relationship is of great significance to promoting regional economic, trade and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

In his speech, Liu Jianjun, vice-mayor of Qingdao, said Yerevan is also the political, economic and cultural center of Armenia. Yerevan and Qingdao have broad prospects for cooperation in machinery manufacturing, international trade and two-way tourism, Liu noted.

Liu welcomed enterprises in Yerevan to carry out economic and trade cooperation with Qingdao counterparts under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Qingdao has established friendly relationships with 85 cities in 47 countries, greatly promoting the city's international cooperation and exchange, said local officials.