Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Thursday he hoped to enhance economic and trade cooperation with China in order to further boost the friendly ties between the two countries.

Christofias told a Chinese commerce delegation that Cyprus was a trustworthy political and economic partner of China, noting that mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the two countries had broad potential.

The president invited Chinese enterprises to invest and tourists to spend their holidays in the east Mediterranean island state.

Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan suggested the two countries broaden the spectrum of cooperation, such as collaboration in trade, investment, energy, shipping, tourism and agriculture.

Cyprus Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides held talks with the Chinese delegation headed by Zhong Thursday, focusing on how to enhance economic and trade cooperation.

The two ministers also witnessed a signing ceremony for China to import antibiotics from a Cypriot pharmaceutical company.