CHINA WATCH

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) 

• Aliyev sees trade opportunities in the new China-Central Asia-Caspian railway
• Chinese media once again attacks Georgia's Lugar research center
• The Belt and Road Georgian Business House and Xi'an International Trade Promotion Council sign a memorandum

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Aliyev sees trade opportunities with the new China-Central Asia-Caspian railway

According to October 11 Trend report, while making a press statement together with the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that with the start of construction and commissioning of the new China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Caspian railway, there will be opportunities to increase trade and reduce transportation costs.

"We congratulate fraternal Kyrgyzstan, as well as other partner countries, on the launch of this important project," Aliyev said.

Chinese media once again attacks Georgia's Lugar research center

On October 11, another propaganda article entitled "40 years of evil: uncovering the tip of the iceberg of human experimentation in the USA" was published by China's state controlled China News outlet containing disinformation about Georgia's Lugar research center: "In Georgia, the Lugar research center, which was constructed by the US Army Medical Research Department, used volunteers as trial subjects, in just one year, 73 volunteers died of the same new medical test".

The Belt and Road Georgian Business House and Xi'an International Trade Promotion Council sign a memorandum

A photo from the event. Source: The Belt and Road Georgian Business House

On October 11, the Belt and Road Georgian Business House reported that a memorandum on cooperation had been signed between the Belt and Road Georgian Business House and the Xi'an International Trade Promotion Council on August 14.

The Chairman of Xi'an International Trade Promotion Council, Hong Rong, and representatives of Chambers of Commerce of Georgia, Israel, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and Iran attended the ceremony. Reportedly, the founder of the Belt and Road Georgian Business House and the official representative of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce in Guangdong province Bekar Mikaberidze met with the mayor of Xi'an and introduced him to the potential of Georgia in the investment direction.

Armenian scholar made pro-Beijing comments

In the article "Party forms new friendships worldwide" published by Chinese state media China Daily on October 11, the Chairman of the Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies in Yerevan, Benyamin Poghosyan made pro-Beijing comments.

"The CCP always values people-centered development and promotes balanced urban-rural and regional development to lead the Chinese people toward the goal of common prosperity. Political parties in many countries can learn from China's successful experience," Poghosyan said.

Confucius Institute at the Azerbaijan University of Languages was awarded as the "Best Confucius Institute" in 2021 and 2022

A photo from the website. Source: The Azerbaijan University of Languages

On October 10, the Azerbaijan University of Languages reported that according to the Director of the Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan University of Languages from the Azerbaijani side, Rafiq Abbasov, the Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan University of Languages was awarded as the "Best Confucius Institute" in 2021 and 2022 for the work on teaching the Chinese language and Chinese culture.

Abbasov also said that the Director of the Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan University of Languages from the Chinese side Li Jihua was awarded a medal for "fruitful long service" for the development of the Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan University of Languages, and earlier the Confucius Institute of the Luhansk National University. According to him, the Confucius Institute of the Azerbaijan University of Languages was awarded as the "Best Confucius Institute" in 2021 and 2022 for its work on teaching the Chinese language and Chinese culture.