Cyprus in China

11 November - Armistice Day. Today marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting in the First World War - a moment to remember the human cost of war and reflect on the enduring importance of peace. It was an honour to join colleagues on 8 November at a solemn and meaningful Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Ambssador’s Residence of the British Embassy in Beijing, and a particular privilege to read Moina Michael’s “We Shall Keep the Faith”. I also laid a wreath in tribute to all those who gave their lives defending our values so that we may live in peace. Their sacrifice reminds us never to take peace for granted. May their memory inspire us to bridge differences through dialogue and build lasting peace through understanding and reconciliation. Lest we forget. Photo credit : @ukinchina #LestWeForget #ArmisticeDay #RemembranceDay2026 #Peace @CyprusinChina

It was an honour to join the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Hangzhou Dianzi University (HDU). Warm congratulations to its faculty, students and alumni on this special milestone! Moreover , I was particularly happy to see the collaboration between HDU and two Cypriot universities: Cyprus University of Technology @CyUniTech and Frederick University @frederick_uni. Education brings our countries closer, creating opportunities for shared knowledge, research, innovation and lasting friendships. #HDU #HangzhouDianziUniversity #70thAnniversary #Cyprus #China #HigherEducation #UniversityCooperation @CyprusinChina TV

An honour to participate at the opening of the exhibition “Τη γλώσσα μου έδωσαν Ελληνική» @SISUShanghai, tracing the history of the Greek language and the evolution of its written form. Warm thanks to the co-organisers, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture @cultureGR and SISU, and their partners: the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, the School of European and Latin American Studies, and the “Marilena Laskaridis” Centre for Greek Culture. The students’ reflections on learning Greek and their recitation of Odysseas Elytis’s poetry made the occasion particularly moving. Moreover , I was equally delighted to join students of the Modern Greek Studies Department for a separate session on Cyprus, its history, archaeology and rich literary heritage. Language and culture bring us closer, strengthening ties between Cyprus, Greece and China. #Cyprus #Greece #China #SISU #GreekLanguage #CulturalDiplomacy Με ιδιαίτερη συγκίνηση συμμετείχα , την περασμένη εβδομάδα, στα εγκαίνια της έκθεσης με τίτλο «Τη γλώσσα μου έδωσαν ελληνική» στο Πανεπιστήμιο Διεθνών Σπουδών της Σαγκάης - SISU - η οποία αναδεικνύει τη μακραίωνη ιστορία της ελληνικής γλώσσας και την εξέλιξη της γραφής της. Θερμές ευχαριστίες στους συνδιοργανωτές, το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού της Ελλάδας και το SISU, καθώς και στους συνεργαζόμενους φορείς: το Ίδρυμα Αικατερίνης Λασκαρίδη, τη Σχολή Ευρωπαϊκών και Λατινοαμερικανικών Σπουδών και το Κέντρο Ελληνικού Πολιτισμού «Μαριλένα Λασκαρίδη». Περαιτέρω , ξεχωριστή συγκίνηση προκάλεσαν οι φοιτητές και οι φοιτήτριες, που μοιράστηκαν τις εμπειρίες τους από την εκμάθηση των ελληνικών και απήγγειλαν ποίηση του Οδυσσέα Ελύτη. Με εξίσου μεγάλη χαρά συμμετείχα και σε συνάντηση με φοιτητές και φοιτήτριες του Τμήματος Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών, όπου είχα την ευκαιρία να μιλήσω για την Κύπρο, την ιστορία, την αρχαιολογία και την πλούσια λογοτεχνική της παράδοση. Η γλώσσα και ο πολιτισμός μάς φέρνουν πιο κοντά, ενισχύοντας τους δεσμούς Κύπρου, Ελλάδας και Κίνας. #Κύπρος #Ελλάδα #Κίνα #SISU #ΕλληνικήΓλώσσα Photo credit : SISU

A day in Shanghai that brought Cyprus- China maritime and cultural ties into sharper focus. As we finalised arrangements for Cyprus Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanoli’s visit, I had the opportunity to explore the connections between our two countries across both maritime heritage and culture. At the China Maritime Museum, Deputy Director General Lu Wei gave me a fascinating tour spanning ancient seafaring to modern shipping, followed by a discussion on opportunities for cooperation with Cyprus. I also met with the Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Division to discuss cultural exchanges, joined by renowned Kunqu opera singer Ms Zhao. Thank you to our Shanghai partners for their warm welcome! #Cyprus #Shanghai #CulturalDiplomacy #MaritimeHeritage #China

An enriching visit to Heilongjiang, exploring rural revitalization, women’s empowerment and the role of innovation in supporting rural communities. Meeting women farmers and seeing smart agriculture in action made this visit particularly meaningful as 2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer, proclaimed by the United Nations. Moreover, meeting members of the Hezhen community was another highlight, reminding us of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and passing traditions on to future generations. In Harbin, our visit to the Harbin Institute of Technology offered a glimpse into advances in science and technology. I was also glad that I had the opportunity to share Cyprus’s initiatives for women’s empowerment, including outreach to women farmers, digital skills training and support for rural entrepreneurship. My warm thanks to the All-China Women’s Federation for the invitation, generous hospitality and valuable exchanges. #Heilongjiang #Harbin #RuralRevitalization #WomensEmpowerment #WomanFarmer2026 #CulturalHeritage #Cyprus #China @CommissionerGE @CyprusinChina