Informational event at the Chinese Embassy: “Understanding China through the two sessions”

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Cyprus, in collaboration with Strategy International, organized an informational event on Friday, March 13, 2026, titled “Understanding China Through the Two Sessions,” at the Embassy’s premises in Nicosia.

The keynote speaker at the event was the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus, Mr. Zhou Yunliang, who presented the key aspects of the so-called “Two Sessions,” namely the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), two leading institutions in China’s political life through which the country’s strategic direction is shaped.

In his speech, Mr. Zhou Yunliang analyzed three fundamental “codes” that, as he noted, characterize China’s governance.

The first concerns the institutional nature of governance, where, as he emphasized, democratic participation is combined with the country’s collective strength. Approximately 5,000 representatives from across China bring experiences and perspectives from society and local communities to the sessions, contributing to the formulation of policies and strategies for the country’s modernization.

The second point relates to China’s development model, which, according to him, seeks to combine economic growth with quality and innovation. As he noted, in 2025 the Chinese economy grew by 5%, remaining among the strongest in the world and contributing to approximately 30% of global economic growth. At the same time, significant progress has been made in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, the digital industry, and electric vehicles.

The third “code” concerns China’s diplomatic policy, which, according to Mr. Zhou, is based on peaceful development, multilateral cooperation, and the promotion of a more equitable international system. He emphasized that China supports peace, multilateralism, and international cooperation to address global challenges.

Referring to China–Cyprus relations, Mr. Zhou Yunliang noted that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as five years since the upgrading of relations to a strategic partnership. In this context, he expressed China’s readiness to further strengthen cooperation with Cyprus in areas such as trade, shipping, clean energy, and the digital economy.

The discussion was moderated by Professor Dr. Marios Efthymiopoulos, CEO of Strategy International. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with the audience and a reception.

The event provided an opportunity to share information and exchange views on recent developments in China and the prospects for strengthening cooperation between China and Cyprus.