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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s interview to Chinese “Xinhua” information agency.

Mister President, what types of sports do you like the most? What would you like to wish to the Olympic teams of Armenia and China? What expectations do you have from Armenian Olympic team?

Armenia is a country of sports. It is due to our famous Armenian sportsmen and Sport of Armenia, in general, that our tiny country is famous in the world. Irrespective of the small population of Armenia, our country managed to mark its own place in the biography of world sports and Olympics. Yet in the 4th century Armenian King Varazdat became an Olympic Wrestling Champion, many other Armenian sportsmen, today, keep high records and victories in the registers of the winners. So, this is to say that blood of Olympics flow in Armenians’ veins.
I like sport, as otherwise it is impossible. I am the President of Armenian Chess Federation; this is a type of sport where Armenians and Chinese sportsmen have been always fixing perfect results, besides our national team currently is the Olympic Champion. Like other Presidents I am happy when Armenian sportsmen have victories and I am unhappy when something lacks to have a successful performance. Today, everybody in Armenia keeps under attention Beijing and Olympics Games. Of course, I agree with the slogan of Olympics, but I also think that every Armenian sportsman is in Beijing to have successful performances and to receive golden medals. I am leaving for Beijing with high mood; I am going to be close to our sportsmen and to encourage them.
Do you think that sport have any connection with politics?
First, sport has close links with relationship, and then with competition. There are various examples in the world history when due to sport countries and nations came closer and started good relationship. For example, let’s remember Chinese American relationship in the beginnings of 1970 and so called “Ping Pong Diplomacy”. Moreover, in our days Zhuang Zedong is famous both in sport and politics.
It is already seven years when you visited China as Minister of Defense of Armenia. How do you feel now leaving for Beijing? How do you evaluate the work of Chinese Government to get prepared to the Olympics?
You’re right it was seven years ago I visited China. Then I was the Minister of Defense of Armenia. That last visit to your huge country had great impression on me. Now I am following the development of China, and I am happy with the successes of Chinese people. I am leaving for China to eyewitness all the changes conducted in your country. I have no doubts that China and Chinese people have done everything to guarantee perfect Olympics Games. I know that Chinese Olympic Team is prepared to the Games seriously.
Armenian and Chinese People have rich common history. In the recent years the bilateral relationship of these countries is developing fast. How do you evaluate the perspectives of development? What are the specific fields of the cooperation?
China is a relative country for us. The present stage of our relationship has strong legal basis, including more than 40 interstate and inter-governmental memorandums. The reforms, developments, modernizations in China are being followed by Armenians.
Certainly there is development in the trade circulation, agriculture, high technologies and humanitarian fields. We have also collaboration in sports and culture. Although I can see more huge potential of collaboration and measures should be taken to improve that. Armenia received the invitation to take part in “Expo 2010” international exhibition which is to be conducted in Shan Hang.