Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Tuesday met with Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau, to discuss issues concerning bilateral relations.

Li conveyed greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and spoke highly of the long-standing exchanges and contacts between the two countries and peoples.

"After the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the development of bilateral relations entered a new phase," said Li. "High-level exchanges are frequent; political mutual trust has deepened; obvious results have been achieved in such fields as trade and economy, culture and education; the two countries communicate and coordinate in international as well as regional issues."

Li recalled that during the World Expo in Shanghai last year, visiting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and the two presidents exchanged views and reached consensus on how to cement friendship and widen scope of cooperation. The presidents' meeting has pointed out the way for further development of bilateral relations and injected new impetus into such development, he said.

Li proposed that the two countries enhance bilateral relations in the fields of politics, economy, cultural exchange, education and scientific development.

The Armenian president asked Li to convey his greetings to Chinese President Hu Jintao, and said that he fully agrees with Li on further efforts to promote bilateral relations.

Sargsyan said that China is a reliable friend of Armenia. The friendship between the two countries is conducive to the economic and social development of Armenia and to the peace and prosperity of the region as well, he said.

He added that Armenia is satisfied with the momentum with which China and Armenia have been enjoying in the sound development of bilateral relations, and that he appreciated China's equal treatment of big and small countries.

Developing relations with China will continue to be a priority of Armenia's diplomacy, he said, voicing hope that the two countries will make join efforts to broaden trade and economic cooperation and further people-to-people exchanges so as to promote the comprehensive development of bilateral relations.