X

CHINA WATCH

China's Activities in the South Caucasus Issue 64, 29.08.2022 – 4.09.2022

Author: 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 175th out of 180 countries)

  • Chinese Ambassador attends the opening of Georgia's House of Justice branch in Hualing neighborhood in Tbilisi
  • In January-July, Azerbaijan's third-biggest import partner was China
  • Chinese Ambassador and Armenian province governor discuss cooperation
  • Chinese media reports Armenian scholar's pro-Beijing comments

 

Read full publication:

News from August 26

Chinese Ambassador and Armenian province governor discuss cooperation

Fan Yong and Ararat Grigoryan. Source: Armenpress

On August 26, Ararat Grigoryan, the Governor of the Armenian province Vayots Dzor received the Chinese Ambassador to Armenia, Fan Yong, Armenpress reported.

According to Grigoryan, Vayots Dzor province has always "highly appreciated the inter-state relations that have good traditions of mutual partnership between the two friendly peoples, trying to contribute to strengthening this friendship within the frames of decentralized cooperation".

The Chinese Ambassador said that all foundations of cooperation were created "thanks to the productive diplomatic relations of 30 years", and added that with joint efforts, it would be possible to achieve the implementation of the goals set before the two sides.

Reportedly, the priority directions of the province's economy, the current economic situation, and development trends with focus on the winemaking and tourism sectors were presented at the meeting. Its participants also considered the possibility of creating a center for teaching Chinese in the province. At the end of the meeting, the two sides expressed confidence that they would manage to further strengthen "the friendly ties between Armenia and China for the welfare of the two nations".

 

29.08.2022 – 4.09.2022

Chinese Ambassador attends the opening of Georgia's House of Justice branch in Hualing neighborhood in Tbilisi

Zhou Qian, Rati Bregadze, Giorgi Tkemaladze. Source: Hualing Group

A new branch of the House of Justice was opened in Hualing Plaza, Tbilisi, Chinese Hualing Group reported on September 2.

Georgian Minister of Justice of Georgia Rati Bregadze, the Ambassador of China to Georgia Zhou Qian, the Chairman of Tbilisi Municipality Council Giorgi Tkemaladze, the Governor of Samgori District Kakha Samkharadze, and others attended the opening ceremony.

"I think that opening the House of Justice in Hualing Plaza is a very good idea and a great project for the Hualing Group, the Ministry of Justice, and the people living around the Hualing area," said the Chinese Ambassador.

The Ambassador also visited the territory of Hualing Group and saw various projects of the company.

"It is important to use and develop the advantages of the free trade agreement signed between China and Georgia to further promote the development of bilateral trade relations between our countries," he noted.

 

Azerbaijan's investment and trade potential demonstrated at China fair

A photo from the event. Source: Azernews

Azerbaijan's investment and trade potential was demonstrated at the China International Fair of Services, Azernews reported on September 2.

Reportedly, one of the 200 scheduled events was the forum entitled Azerbaijan- Investment and Trade Opportunities, set to be jointly organized by the Trade Representative Office of Azerbaijan in China and the China Association for International Economic Cooperation.

 

Chinese media reports Armenian scholar's pro-Beijing comments

On August 30, Chinese state-controlled newspaper People's Daily published an interview with the Chairman of the Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies in Armenia Benyamin Poghosyan who praised China and its policies.

"China has made admirable development achievements, and the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the source of the country's development miracle," Poghosyan said.

Among other things he claimed that "China's democratic construction" was worth learning, adding that democracy was "not exclusive to a few countries" and every country had "the right to choose its own path to democracy".

According to the report, as a reader of the CCP Chairman Xi Jinping's book, " The Governance of China", Poghosyan has been deeply impressed by the remarks of the Chinese leader.

Reportedly, "as an expert on the BRI", Poghosyan "promoted the establishment" of the Armenian branch of a network for cooperation among NGOs in countries along the Belt and Road, which "has carried out a series of pragmatic cooperation projects".

"I'm glad to cooperate with my Chinese counterparts to expand mutual understanding and promote constant development of Armenia-China friendship," Poghosyan said.

 

In January-July, Azerbaijan's third-biggest import partner was China

On August 29, Azernews reported that in January-July 2022, Azerbaijan's third-biggest import partner was China with $1.1 billion.

 

Chinese Ambassador in Armenia visited Sisian

The Chinese Ambassador to Armenia, Fan Yong, held a meeting with the Acting Mayor of Sisian in Syunik Province, Armenia and visited the Sisian branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University, the Chinese Ambassador to Armenia reported on August 31.

Back to full list
© 2024 Georgian Foundation For Strategic and International Studies. All Rights Reserved.