The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Cyprus, along with Strategy International, held an event called ‘Understanding China Through the Two Sessions’ on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Embassy in Nicosia.
The main speaker was Mr. Zhou Yunliang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus. He talked about the key points of the ‘Two Sessions.’ These sessions are annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). They play a big role in China’s political life and help shape the country’s future.
In his speech, Mr. Zhou Yunliang discussed three main ‘codes’ that define China’s governance.
The first code is about governance’s institutional nature. It combines democratic participation with the country’s collective strength. Around 5,000 representatives from all over China share their experiences and opinions at these meetings. This helps develop policies and strategies for modernizing the country.
The second code is about China’s development model. It focuses on blending economic growth with quality and innovation. He noted that in 2025, China’s economy grew by 5%, staying among the strongest worldwide and contributing about 30% to global economic growth. There has also been significant progress in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum technology, digital industry, and electric vehicles.
The third code is about China’s diplomatic policy. It focuses on peaceful development, multilateral cooperation, and creating a fairer international system. He stressed that China supports peace and international cooperation to tackle global challenges.
Talking about China–Cyprus relations, Mr. Zhou Yunliang mentioned that 2026 marks 55 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries and five years since they upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership. He expressed China’s willingness to boost cooperation with Cyprus in trade, shipping, clean energy, and the digital economy.
The discussion was led by Professor Dr. Marios Efthymiopoulos, CEO of Strategy International. After the speech, there was a lively discussion with the audience followed by a reception.
The event was a great chance for sharing information and discussing recent developments in China and ways to strengthen cooperation between China and Cyprus.
