YEREVAN, Sept. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Luo Gan, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Armenian leaders vowed Monday to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

　　When meeting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Luo, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC, saidrelations have developed steadily since China and Armenia established diplomatic ties over 10 years ago.

　　The two countries have common or similar positions on many international issues and have kept close contact and cooperation, Luo was quoted by a press lease from the Chinese delegation.

　　China attaches great importance to developing relations with Armenia and is willing to make joint efforts to keep the momentum of high-level dialogue so as to further improve the relations, Luoadded.

　　During the meeting, Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction with the development of Armenian-Chinese relations. Armenia paid greatattention to the increasingly-important role China is playing on international stage and regards the country as its most important partner, he added.

　　He said he hopes the two countries would keep the trend to expand and step up cooperation in political, economic and all other fields.

　　The president reiterated that his country would stick to the one-China policy and would enhance understanding, mutual support and cooperation with China in international and regional affairs.

　　Earlier in the day, Luo met Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. Luo said China is willing to make joint efforts with Armenia to improve the relations to a high level on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit principles.

　　Speaking of relations between the CPC and parties in Armenia, Luo noted that the CPC will make more efforts to enhance party-to-party exchanges and cooperation so as to promote state-to-state relations between China and Armenia.

　　Margarian told Luo, "China is our good friend," adding that Armenia attaches great importance to developing relations with China and will make best efforts to improve them, he stressed.

　　Speaking of his party's ties with the CPC, Margarian said the Republic Party of Armenia is willing to make joint efforts with the CPC so that the party relationship will be an important part of state relations.

　　Following their meeting, Luo and Margarian attended a ceremony for the signing of a document, under which China will provide an aid of 5 million yuan to Armenia.

　　Luo also met Parliament Speaker Arthur Bagdasaryan. Luo spoke highly of the relations between the two countries' parliaments, saying that parliament contacts and exchanges have played an indispensable role in promoting friendship between the two peoplesand ties between the two nations.

　　Bagdasaryan told Luo that Armenia's parliament and its parties will make efforts to find new ways for more cooperation.

　　Also on Monday, Luo met Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. Luo arrived here after visiting Iceland and Finland. Armenia is the third leg of his four-nation tour, which will also bring him to Moldova.

　　Armenia, with a population of about 3.5 million, became independent from the former Soviet Union in 1990. Enditem