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 177th out of 180 countries)

  • Huawei is constructing a ‘smart city’ in Azerbaijan’s regained territories
  • A new freight train from China will pass through Azerbaijan
  • More than 100 Georgian and Chinese companies participated in a Georgia-China trade meeting
  • Disinformation on Georgian laboratory in Chinese state media
  • China was Azerbaijan’s second biggest import partner in January-February 2022

 

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Omitted news from April 5

Huawei is constructing a ‘smart city’ in Azerbaijan’s regained territories

Xu Hui. Source: Baku Tribune

On April 5, Baku Tribune published an interview with the CEO of Huawei Technologies Azerbaijan, Xu Hui in which he said that in 2021 Huawei had carried out many projects, including the smart village project in Azerbaijan’s regained areas, the GPON project in Azerbaijan, and the IP project in BAKU cities.

“These projects are basic projects for Azerbaijan’s digital transformation,” Xu noted.

On the question of how the work progressed towards the implementation of the “smart city” project in the regained territories he answered that with the concerted efforts of local partners, the first phase of construction was completed as planned.

He added that in 2021 Huawei “continued to win recognition” from customers and the market and achieved stable growth in its overall business.

 

11.04.2022 – 17.04.2022

More than 100 Georgian and Chinese company participated in a Georgia-China trade meeting

Photo from the meeting. Source: Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On April 14, the President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce, Giorgi Pertaia held an online meeting with the Deputy Director-General of the China Foreign Trade Center, Wen Zhongliang, and the Chinese Consul in Georgia, Zhao Chuan. More than 100 Georgian and Chinese company representatives attended the meeting.

Reportedly, the purpose of the meeting was to determine the prospects for deepening trade and economic relations between Georgia and China, increase Georgia’s export potential, and strengthen relations with Chinese business circles.

Georgian companies also received information about their participation in one of the largest exhibitions in China, the Canton Fair.

During the meeting, a cooperation agreement was signed between the parties.

 

A new freight train from China will pass through Azerbaijan

Photo of the freight train. Source: Shaanxi China

On April 13, the Chinese city Xi’an launched a new freight train service to Europe that traverses the Caspian and the Black Seas via rail-sea combined transportation.

The train will pass through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and finally reach Mannheim in Germany, covering a total distance of 11,300km.

“The new train service has improved transportation efficiency and saved transportation costs for enterprises. Under the current situation, it presents a new opportunity for our company to stabilize exports,” said Jia Min, manager of an international logistics company in Xi’an.

 

Disinformation on Georgian laboratory in Chinese state media

On April 14, Chinese state media outlet Global Times once again published a disinformation article concerning Georgia’s Lugar laboratory entitled ‘Uncle Sam, keep your hands clean’. The article mentioned the Soviet state official and Georgia’s former Minister of State Security (1993-1995) Igor Giorgadze’s disinformation about the Lugar laboratory. This is not the first time when a Chinese state media outlet used Giorgadze’s disinformation.

 

In January-February 2022, China was the fourth biggest export destination for Georgian wine 

In January-February 2022, China was the fourth biggest export destination for Georgian wine ($1.4 million), Trend reported on April 13. Compared to the same period in 2021, that was a growth of 27.2%.

 

In January-February China was Azerbaijan’s second biggest import partner

On April 17, Azernews reported that in January-February 2022 China was the fifth biggest trade partner of Azerbaijan accounting for 3.9% of the total trade turnover. China was Azerbaijan’s second-biggest importer which was 15.2% of the total imports.

 

Confucius Institute in Azerbaijan held a seminar

On April 12, to welcome the International Space Day, the Confucius Institute at Azerbaijan’s University of Languages held a seminar on the theme ‘Azerbaijan and China: The Silk Road to Space’.