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 175th out of 180 countries)
Read full publication: Pashinyan to Xi: Further development of relations with China is of primary importance for Armenia On October 1, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to CCP Chairman Xi Jinping on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, News.am reported. According to him, further development of relations and expansion of cooperation with "a reliable partner like China" in both bilateral and multilateral formats "is of primary importance" for Armenia. Pashinyan reaffirmed his willingness to continue promoting further deepening of cooperation between Armenia and China "with joint efforts for the benefit of two friendly peoples". He also wrote to Xi that under his leadership, China "recorded successes in the direction of political and socio-economic progress", and achieved "further strengthening" China's international reputation. Pashinyan also sent a congratulatory message to the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang. "The relations between our countries have a great potential for deepening, which is evidenced by the dialogue based on mutual respect and trust, the high level of mutual support and cooperation on international platforms, and similar approaches to various issues of the international agenda. I am sure that thanks to joint efforts and firm steps, we will succeed in continuously expanding and qualitatively raising the established active dialogue and multi-layered interaction between our countries to a new level," The Armenian Prime Minister wrote.
Aliyev to Xi: We can further solidify and deepen our beneficial cooperation by fully harnessing the existing potential in different areas The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of congratulations to CCP Chairman Xi Jinping on the occasion of the People's Republic of China's establishment day, News.Az reported on October 1. "In the past 73 years, the People's Republic of China has made extraordinary accomplishments in every sphere, be it economic, social, science and technology, as well as the international arena, and entered a new phase of its development qualitatively. Today, we witness your country, the one with a strong economy and distinctively active engagement and position within the international community, achieving tremendous success under your leadership. As a friend, Azerbaijan is delighted to see China's achievements," he wrote. "I note with pleasure that in the 30 years of established diplomatic relations, the friendly ties and our cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian and other spheres have developed dynamically and reached the level of strategic partnership," Aliyev wrote adding that Baku highly valued China's support for Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and noting that Azerbaijan also unequivocally supported China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The President wrote to Xi that presently there were good prospects for enriching their "productive cooperation with new substance across every domain", particularly highlighting economy and trade, transport and logistics, investments, energy, agriculture, and humanitarian areas. Aliyev also expressed interest in expanding their joint activity with the Chinese companies in the reconstruction and restoration efforts across Azerbaijan's regained territories. "I believe we can further solidify and deepen our beneficial cooperation by fully harnessing the existing potential in different areas, including the Belt and Road project you have initiated... I am confident that through our joint efforts, the Azerbaijan-China friendship and strategic partnership will continue to expand and strengthen for the sake of the prosperity of our peoples and in line with the interests of our countries," Ilham Aliyev added.
Georgian Speaker of Parliament wants to further strengthen political mutual trust with China A photo from the event. Source: News Day On October 2, China Daily reported that Chinese embassies in various countries held events to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Reportedly, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia and member of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, Shalva Papuashvili, spoke highly of China's development achievements in the past ten years, and about Georgia-China relations, expressing willingness to further strengthen political mutual trust, continuously deepen bilateral relations, actively participate in the Belt and Road cooperation and push for more achievements in bilateral cooperation in various fields, "so as to further benefit the two peoples". News Day also reported a speech by the Chinese ambassador to Georgia, Zhou Qian. While discussing the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CCP, he said that together with Georgia and other countries, China would spare no effort for peaceful development, take responsibility for joint progress, and work with other countries to create "a community with a shared future" and a better world together. "We are ready to continue drawing up strategic, long-term, and complex plans together with the Georgian side to promote the advancement of bilateral relations, the building of the Belt and Road Initiative, the deepening of business cooperation, and the healthy, stable and sustainable development of the relationship between the two countries," the Chinese Ambassador said. Reportedly, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Aleksandre Khtisiashvili, Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Nino Tandilashvili, and other officials also took part in the event.
Chinese Ambassador: Sino–Azerbaijani relations have reached unprecedented heights On September 30, Azertag published a letter by the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min. After discussing China-related topics, she touched upon China-Azerbaijan relations. On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan, Guo Min said that their mutual political trust steadily deepened, practical cooperation yielded productive results, humanitarian and cultural ties strengthened, and traditional friendship became ever stronger: "Sino–Azerbaijani relations have reached unprecedented heights". The Ambassador also referred to the latest meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and CCP Chairman Xi Jinping and said: "The Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan is ready to work with the Azerbaijani government and supporters from all walks of life to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, to deepen practical cooperation between the two countries in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and promote bilateral relationships to a higher level". The Chinese Ambassador also added: "In the face of risks and challenges rarely before observed, China is ready to work with Azerbaijan and to stand on the right side of history and human progress. Let us join our efforts, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and create a better world, together".
Baku considers Azerbaijan-China relations development as one of the priorities of its foreign policy On September 30, on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, The Embassy of Azerbaijan in China shared a congratulatory letter. According to the Embassy, Azerbaijan attaches "utmost importance to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan-China relations that have an ancient history and considers them as one of the priorities of its foreign policy". Reportedly, the Embassy is confident that the "ties of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation" between Azerbaijan and China "which are based on good traditions will continue to develop and strengthen through joint efforts of wise Leadership of both States for the sake of the prosperity of our peoples".
Georgian Dream MP and Chinese Ambassador agree to organize joint cultural events Zhou Qian and Eliso Bolkvadze. Source: The Parliament of Georgia On September 27, the Chair of the Culture Committee in the Parliament of Georgia from Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream Party and a member of the friendship group with the Parliament of China, Eliso Bolkvadze, met with the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, Zhou Qian. According to the report, Bolkvadze introduced the Ambassador to the main activities of the Culture Committee with particular importance attached to cultural diplomacy. "We discussed the mechanisms of the relationship between the state and the private sector in order to develop the sphere of culture. We talked about the specifics of the similar Committee's work in the National People's Congress of China", Bolkvadze said. Reportedly, the parties agreed on further cooperation and planned to organize joint cultural events. According to the Chinese Embassy report, the Ambassador welcomed the Georgian side's active participation in various cultural cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative framework.
China is ready to deepen cooperation with Georgia in the BRI, Chinese Ambassador says On September 29, an article by the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Zhou Qian was published in Georgian Times. The Ambassador wrote that in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, CCP Chairman Xi Jinping had noted that the Belt and Road Initiative should be aligned with each country's development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives. "He called on the parties to expand multilateral and subregional cooperation. Geographically, Georgia is a close neighbor of the SCO. In addition, it is an important partner of the Belt and Road Initiative. We are ready to use these favorable factors to strengthen the trust and friendship between the two countries, and deepen cooperation in the Belt and Road, economy, trade, culture, science, education, and other fields," Zhou Qian added. He also noted that at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili noted that "security brings stability, and stability brings predictability." Predictability is a crucial prerequisite for sustainable economic development." The Ambassador said that this was in line with the consensus of cooperation reached by the parties at the Samarkand Summit and their common aspiration for unity, stability, and development.
Chinese media targets democratic protests of Georgia, Azerbaijan On September 20, another article was published on a Chinese state media website China News that targeted democratic protests: "Looking back at history, the United States and the West instigated or were involved in "color revolutions" many times. From the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the radical changes in Eastern Europe to the "Rose Revolution" in Georgia in 2003…" Azerbaijan's protests in 2005 were also mentioned in the material.
Armenia is willing to further strengthen relations with China The Embassy of China in Armenia reported that from September 28, the Chinese Embassy would hold a series of online activities to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese Ambassador to Armenia Fan Yong and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Mnatsakan Safaryan delivered congratulatory messages. According to the report, the Armenian side thanked China for providing financial, technical, and humanitarian assistance to Armenia, and was willing to contribute to the further strengthening and development of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Fan Yong said that China was willing to further strengthen the joining up of development strategies of the two sides, promote the high-quality development of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, promote common prosperity, and benefit both countries' peoples.
Confucius Institute in Azerbaijan held an art exhibition "Paintings on Chinese Revolutionary History" To welcome the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Confucius Institute at the Azerbaijan University of languages held an art exhibition "Paintings on Chinese Revolutionary History", Azertac reported on September 28. |