RIGA -The Chinese Embassy in Latvia held an reception on Tuesday evening celebrating the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Latvia and the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

At the event attended by more than 200 people, Chinese Ambassador Hu Yeshun said in the past 20 years, Latvia has always been an important partner of China in the Baltic region. Under the principle of mutual respect and equality, the two countries have carried out friendly exchanges in various fields, with frequent high-level visits which help ensure an ever-enhanced political mutual trust, an ever-expanding cooperation for mutual benefit and an ever-deepening ?friendship between the two peoples.

In the past year, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis paid a working visit to Hong Kong, China, while Han Qide, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, visited Latvia. ?Exchanges of visits at the ministerial level have become a routine mechanism, injecting constant impetus into the bilateral ties.

Acknowledging the huge potential for China-Latvia cooperation, Hu reiterated that China's development will not only benefit Chinese people, but also bring new opportunities for its cooperation with other countries including Latvia. Looking ahead, Hu said the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties would be a new starting point for the two countries to further practical cooperation in various fields in the spirit of sincerity and friendship, mutual benefit and win-win development.

Peteris Pildegovics, renowned Latvian sinologist and founder of the Asia Bureau of Latvian Foreign Ministry, said over the years, he had witnessed the remarkable changes both in China and in the development of China-Latvia relations. ?

During the event, commemorative first-issue covers marking the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Latvia were launched.