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CHINA WATCH

China’s Activities in the South Caucasus Issue 36, 14.02.2022 – 20.02.2022

ავტორი: Medea Ivaniadze

The digest covers China’s political, diplomatic, economic and other activities in the South Caucasus region and relations between China and the South Caucasus countries. It relies on a wide variety of sources, including the Chinese media. It is worth noting that the Chinese media is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (according to the World Press Freedom Index China is nearly at the bottom of the list and ranks 177th out of 180 countries)

  • Azerbaijani Minister and Chinese Olympic Committee Vice-President discussed cooperation in sports field
  • China was Azerbaijan’s second-largest import partner in January 2022
  • The CEO of Georgia’s Poti FIZ discussed China’s investment
  • Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee member states Beijing 2022 Olympics was “one of the best games“
  • In 2021, 3468 visitors came to Georgia from China

 

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Azerbaijani Minister and Chinese Olympic Committee Vice-President discussed cooperation in sports field

Farid Gayibov and Li Yingchuan. Source: Azertac

On February 15, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov met with the Deputy Director of the State General Administration of Sport of China, Chinese Olympic Committee Vice-President Li Yingchuan as part of his three-day visit to Beijing. They discussed cooperation issues between the two countries in the sports field, and the organization of the Winter Olympic Games.

Azerbaijan’s Chef de Mission for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games Anar Baghirov also attended the meeting.

 

In 2021, 3468 visitors came to Georgia from China

According to Georgia’s MFA report, in 2021, a total of 3 468 visitors came to Georgia from China. It said that between 2020 and 2021, the number of Chinese visitors dropped significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, 4363 visitors came to Georgia from China, in 2019 - 48 071, and in 2018 - 31 855. MFA noted that the introduction of direct flights (Tbilisi-Urumqi-Beijing-Urumqi-Tbilisi) greatly contributed to the development of tourism cooperation between Georgia and China and the increase in the number of Chinese visitors to Georgia.

 

China was Azerbaijan’s second-largest import partner in January

In January 2022, China was Azerbaijan’s second-largest import partner ($141.1 million), Azernews reported on February 18.

 

Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee member states Beijing 2022 Olympics was “one of the best games“

On February 17, a Chinese state media outlet reported that a member of Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee Ragif Abbasov hailed China’s hosting of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. “As the Beijing 2022 nears an end, it is with great confidence that we say now that it’s going to be one of the best games in the modern Olympics history,“ Abbasov said.

Ragif Abbasov noted that Winter Games fans and sports functionaries in Azerbaijan were closely following the action in different sports and enjoyed “the performance of the best athletes of the planet and world winter sports stars“. He noted that “the majority“ had said that the Beijing Games were “organized excellently“.

 

The CEO of Georgia’s Poti FIZ discussed China’s investment

On February 15, the CEO of Georgia’s Poti Free Industrial Zone David Ebralidze told Trend about Chinese investment in the Poti FIZ. Trend reported that one of the important initiatives of the current year for the Poti FIZ was the car parts production facility on a 5,000 square meter land plot. It said that the plant would be built by SDT Georgia LLC, a joint China-Italy venture.

“At the first stage, up to 60 residents will work at the plant, and next year their number will increase to 100 people. The construction of the plant is carried out with Italian-Chinese investments with the estimated investment volume of 10 million Georgian lari ($3.4 million),“ Ebralidze said. Reportedly, the components will be produced from Georgian and foreign raw materials and exported to EU countries, China, the US, and Mexico.

Ebralidze also noted that the most important projects in 2021 were engaged in textile production, which according to the report, is one of the leading sectors at the FIZ. Trend report said that among them, one of the important initiatives was the project on textile production, the raw materials for which were mainly imported from China, and the final products are exported mainly to Poland and other EU countries. It said that the total investment cost of the project was about 1.5 million Georgian lari ($ 517 241).

 

Azerbaijan’s University of Languages held a seminar ‘Azerbaijan and China: History and Prospects of Cooperation’

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s University of Languages held a seminar ‘Azerbaijan and China: History and Prospects of Cooperation’, Azertac reported on February 16. The seminar was co-hosted by the Confucius Institute at Azerbaijan’s University of Languages ​​and International Relations teaching and research section at the University of Languages.

 

Confucius Institute in Azerbaijan held an event on Lantern Festival

To celebrate China’s Lantern Festival, the Confucius Institute at Azerbaijan’s University of Languages ​​held an activity, Azertac reported on February 16.

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