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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 179th out of 180 countries)
Read the full publication: Georgia's Ombudsman and Chinese Ambassador discussed cooperation on human rights protection
A photo from the meeting. Source: The Embassy of China to Georgia On August 14, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, Zhou Qian, met with Georgia's Ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani. According to the Embassy, they exchanged views on cooperation in the fields of "discipline inspection supervision, human rights protection", and other fields. The Ambassador introduced "the characteristics and great achievements of Chinese-style modernization", and said that China was willing to take the opportunity of establishing a strategic partnership between China and Georgia to actively share experience in managing state affairs, deepen cooperation in various fields, including "human rights protection and combating corruption". Ioseliani reportedly said that the China-Georgia strategic partnership was of great significance to the two countries and expressed willingness to actively explore cooperation with China on this basis.
Armenia's Defense Committee Chairman and Chinese Ambassador discuss cooperation in the military field
A photo from the meeting. Source: The Embassy of Armenia to China On August 8, China's Ambassador to Armenia Fan Yong met with the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security Affairs Andranik Kocharyan. Reportedly, they discussed the development of cooperation in the defense field. The Chinese Embassy wrote that the Armenian side attached great importance to cooperation and exchanges with China in military technology and military education fields, and was ready to learn from "China's successful experience in governing the country". The Chinese side expressed readiness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Armenia in various fields, including national defense and military affairs. The Embassy wrote that it was ready to play an active role in the development of friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries.
Aliyev representative: We consider China to be our strategic partners
A screenshot from the interview. Source: Azertac China's Phoenix TV broadcasted an interview with the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on special assignments, Elchin Amirbayov, who had recently visited Beijing, Azertac reported on August 19. Reportedly, he hailed the high-level political dialogue between Azerbaijan and China. While discussing China, he said that the Azerbaijani side knew "how important" China's role was in international relations and that it was a friendly country to Azerbaijan. "We consider China to be our strategic partner," Amirbayov added. While discussing Azerbaijan-China relations, he said that harmonizing the Middle Corridor with the Belt and Road Initiative would make an important contribution to the further development of economic and trade relations, logistics opportunities, and tourism. Amirbayov also said that Azerbaijan would be very happy if China and Chinese people would consider Azerbaijan as a new attractive tourist destination while emphasizing the importance of direct flights.
Chinese Ambassador claims that the main part of Georgians evaluate China-Georgia strategic partnership positively
A photo from the interview. Source: MCM In an August 18 interview with the MCM, the Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Qian, said that the relationship between China and Georgia would be planned from a strategic and long-term perspective and that the strategic partnership would be deepened. As for the question regarding some people being suspicious of the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Georgia, the Ambassador said that according to his observation, only a small part of the Georgian society shared this assessment. "The main part of the society positively evaluates this issue," he added. After that the Ambassador attacked the United States: "As for some countries questioning the cooperation between China and Georgia, in the 240 years of their existence, there were only 16 years when they were not involved in a war". He also said that the Middle Corridor was an important corridor connecting Europe and Asia, and noted that it was in line with the Belt and Road Initiative. While discussing these issues, Zhou Qian said that as far as he knew, the EU also had a positive attitude towards the Middle Corridor and told the journalist that China and the European Union had established a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese representative says that China and Armenia can cooperate in military education, military reforms, technologies, and more According to Massispost, on August 17, "at a press briefing" the Military Attaché of the Chinese Embassy, Senior Colonel An Qiang, said that Armenia and China could cooperate in military education, military reforms and technologies, and other areas. "As military attaché, my priority is to develop cooperation between the two countries in the military sector. Both Armenia and China have cultural similarities. Both Armenia and China went through many difficulties throughout history. And both countries were able to overcome these difficulties. And all of this is the foundation for us to develop cooperation in various areas, including in the military sector. Of course, there's a lot of work to be done. We can cooperate in international peacekeeping, humanitarian de-mining, military education, military reforms, and technologies as well. These areas of cooperation have great potential for development. I will do everything for the Armenian-Chinese relations in the military area to develop," He also talked about the visit of a delegation led by the Director of the International Research Center of the Chinese Defense Ministry and said that he personally organized the visit in order to strengthen cooperation. According to An Qing, the delegation was very pleased with the results of the meetings. "I am sure that cooperation in the military sector between the two countries will be very successful. I will do everything for that," he added. China's Ambassador to Armenia Fan Yong said that China was constantly paying attention to the latest developments around the Lachin Corridor and, reportedly, expressed concern about the current situation and its consequences. He expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan would strengthen dialogue and communication, "with the participation of respective parties", and would "persistently solve the existing dispute". Fan Yong noted that the issue must be resolved "in line with internationally recognized laws and norms of international relations, by maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as the prosperity of the people". He added that China supported every diplomatic effort aimed at reaching this goal and was ready to have "its constructive contribution" to it.
In 2022, China was the tenth biggest investor country in Georgia According to the adjusted data released by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on 15 August, in 2022, China was Georgia's tenth biggest investor country with $43.6 million (2.1% of total FDI).
The Chinese company and Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency discuss cooperation in renewable energy
A photo from the meeting. Source: News.az Representatives of Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind visited the Azerbaijan Renewable Energy Agency to discuss cooperation in the field of renewable energy and the production of wind turbine parts in Azerbaijan, News.az reported on August 15.
Chongqing delegation's visit to Nakhchivan
A photo from the visit. Source: Report The delegation of Chongqing, China arrived in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan, Report wrote on August 10. During the visit, the guests were to meet with Azerbaijan's plenipotentiary presidential representative in Nakhchivan, Fuad Najafli, to discuss issues of developing economic and cultural ties, and will also get acquainted with the production, services, and tourism resources of Nakhchivan. In 2021, a "Memorandum on the establishment of relations of friendship and cooperation between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the city of Chongqing" was signed.
Chinese Ambassador and Baku Executive Power Head discuss cooperation
A photo from the meeting. Source: The Embassy of China to Azerbaijan On August 11, the Ambassador of China to Azerbaijan, Guo Min, met with the Head of the Executive Power of Baku City, Eldar Azizov, the Embassy of China to Azerbaijan reported. Reportedly, the Embassy of China to Azerbaijan is ready to work closely with the Executive Power of Baku for deepening China-Azerbaijan relations and regional cooperation between the two countries. Eldar Azizov said that Baku was ready to further strengthen trade, economic, cultural, educational, and tourism cooperation with Sichuan Province, as well as for the opening of direct flights between Baku and Chengdu to facilitate the movement of citizens between the two countries.
Armenian Minister visits China for an Armenian-Chinese enterprise board of directors meeting
A photo from the meeting. Source: Armenpress Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, visited Datong, China to participate in the 6th plenary session of the board of directors and general shareholder assembly of the Shanxi-Nairit Armenian-Chinese joint enterprise, Armenpress reported on August 8. Reportedly, they discussed the current state, issues, and prospects of development of the joint enterprise's activities. The issue of adding positions in the company under the Armenian quota was also discussed.
Chinese diplomat comments on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict On August 16, the Chinese representative to the United Nations, Geng Suhang, said that as Armenia and Azerbaijan are neighbors, it was "in the fundamental interest of both countries to achieve common security and development through cooperation". He encouraged both countries "to continue to meet each other halfway", urging them to properly settle their disputes in accordance with universally recognized international law and the norms governing international relations. |
