Medea Ivaniadze China’s Activities in the South Caucasus Issue 15, 31.5.2021 – 13.6.2021 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 Communist Party of China (according to the World Press Freedom Index China is nearly at the bottom of the list and ranks 177th out of 180 countries) ● Xi Jinping suggests to Aliyev ensuring “sound planning and effective implementation” of BRI ● Chinese Ambassador says that Azerbaijan's national development strategy on Restoration of the Historic Silk Road is highly congenial with BRI ● Georgian Dream party MPs and Chinese Ambassador discuss contacts between legislatures and parties ● Armenian Economy Minister invites Chinese companies for working on projects in Armenia, offers possible Armenia-China directs flights to be subsidized ● Ilham Aliyev says that Azerbaijan firmly supports China on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang ● Ex-Prime Minister of Georgia acknowledges that on vaccines MFA was working extremely actively with China ● Armenian opposition bloc led by Kocharyan promises that cooperation with China will move to a new level, including in the context of regional collaboration Read full publication: 31.5.2021 – 6.6.2021 Xi Jinping suggests to Aliyev ensuring “sound planning and effective implementation” of BRI On June 3, a telephone conversation was held between CCP Chairman Xi Jinping and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. According to the Chinese media, Xi Jinping regards Azerbaijan as an important partner for the Belt and Road cooperation. Xi suggested that the two sides should share opportunities, pursue common development and ensure sound planning and effective implementation of their Belt and Road cooperation. The Chinese leader also noted that China was willing to import more high-quality specialty products from Azerbaijan, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Azerbaijan and carry out cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction. Xi Jinping also said that the two sides 1 should deepen cooperation in the international transportation and logistics, promote the building of Asia-Europe transportation corridors and improve the level of regional connectivity. Xi Jinping said that China and Azerbaijan should take the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship next year as an opportunity to push for the greater development of bilateral ties. Chairman Xi expressed readiness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Azerbaijan in medical areas, and to continue to provide vaccines and other assistance for Azerbaijan's fight against Covid-19. According to Azertac, Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan was ready to further strengthen ties with China and welcomed the further expansion of activities of the Chinese companies in Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev wished China success in organizing the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. According to China Global Television Network, Ilham Aliyev said that China was a true partner of Azerbaijan and that Azerbaijan had always firmly supported China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, and would continue to do so. Aliyev congratulated Xi Jinping on the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of China. Georgian Dream party MPs and Chinese Ambassador discuss communication “between legislature and party” Li Yan, Giorgi Amilakhvari and Shalva Papuashvili. Source: Parliament of Georgia On June 3, the ruling Georgian Dream party MP and the Head of the Friendship Group with the Parliament of the People's Republic of China Giorgi Amilakhvari and another Georgian Dream MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Science and also a member of the Friendship Group Shalva Papuashvili met with the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Li Yan. 2 According to the MFA of China, the Georgian side warmly congratulated the Chinese Ambassador on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the two sides exchanged views on the topics of China-Georgia relations, contacts between legislatures and parties, and education and scientific cooperation. Giorgi Amilakhvari said they discussed “all important issues at the political level, at the educational level, discussed investment and economic topics, talked about future close cooperation”. Georgian MPs also thanked the Chinese Ambassador for the assistance provided to Georgia on the Covid-19 vaccines. In 2010-2020 George Amilakhvari was the Deputy Rector, the Rector and associate professor of in Law at the Tbilisi Open University. Confucius Classroom at the Tbilisi Open University was established in 2016. In 2019, during his time as the Rector of the Tbilisi Open University he signed an agreement with Chinese side on the transformation of the Confucius Classroom at the Tbilisi Open University and establishment of Confucius Institute there. Tbilisi Open University is the second educational institution in Georgia, where a Confucius Institute operates. Former Prime Minister of Georgia on vaccines: MFA was working extremely actively, especially in the direction of China On May 31, former Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia said that Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been working especially actively in the direction of China to get Covid-19 vaccines. Gakharia, previously representing the ruling Georgian Dream Party and currently the leader of the newly established party For Georgia, was discussing vaccine purchasing activities during his time as Prime Minister in 2020 and at the beginning of 2021. “Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working extremely actively, especially in the direction of China and these were the results,” Gakharia noted. Armenian Minister of Economy invited Chinese companies to participate in projects in Armenia Photo from the meeting. Source: Armenpress 3 Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan met with the Ambassador of China to Armenia Fan Yong, Armenpress reported on June 2. Kerobyan informed the Chinese Ambassador about “several new initiatives” and invited Chinese companies to participate in the implementation of these projects, related to the designing, construction and operation of an innovative city on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway, as well as the construction and launch of industrial parks in Ararat, Meghri and Gyumri. Regarding the agricultural sector, Vahan Kerobyan discussed the necessity of creating a single irrigation system in Armenia and discussed the opportunities of jointly implementing this project with China. During the meeting, the sides also discussed the possibilities of re-launching a chemical production and developing metallurgy in Armenia. The two sides also emphasized the necessity of opening direct flights between Armenia and China, which would facilitate cargo transportation between the two countries and would boost tourism. Kerobyan expressed the readiness of the Armenian government on this issue and noted that if necessary, such flights would be subsidized. Chinese Ambassador noted that in 2020 the Chinese side had planned to send a group of specialists to Armenia to observe the possibilities of opening direct flights, but this plan didn’t take place because of Covid-19. According to the Ambassador, the Chinese side was ready to resume the talks over this issue. Fan Yong also emphasized “deepening the economic ties and the mutually beneficial partnership”, expressed the interest of the Chinese side in participation in the mentioned projects and asked to be provided with more detailed information about them. Azerbaijani MP: China and Azerbaijan are linked by the bonds of traditional friendship and cooperation An Azerbaijani MP and member of the Azerbaijan-China Working Group on Interparliamentary Relations Aydin Huseynov said that China and Azerbaijan were linked by the bonds of traditional friendship and cooperation, an Azerbaijani news agency reported on June 3. The MP said that a trade mission operated at the Azerbaijani embassy in China, Azerbaijani trading houses also operated in Luzhou, Lianyuan and Qingdao and three wine houses of Azerbaijan existed in Urumqi and Shanghai. Huseynov noted that Azerbaijan's export of goods to China was growing annually. According to the Azerbaijani MP, Chinese companies have invested over $900 million in Azerbaijan. “There are about 120 companies with Chinese investments in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's investments in the Chinese economy amount to $1.7 billion. China issued a loan worth $600 million to finance the TANAP gas project,” MP added. 4 Azerbaijani MP: Azerbaijan is making a great contribution to the implementation of BRI Azerbaijani MP from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Afet Hasanova said that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries which supported the Belt and Road Initiative and was making a great contribution to the implementation of this initiative by its large-scale transport and infrastructure projects, Azernews reported on June 6. “The implementation of such projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, the Baku International Sea Trade Port and now the formation of the Eurasian Transport Corridor and Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (East-West) by new Zangezur corridor at the initiative of our country will create a short and convenient alternative route for the transportation of goods from China to the West serving