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) 

  • Aliyev to China: People-to-people contacts are very important to establish closer political relations
  • Chinese Ambassador congratulates Armenia’s military personnel on the Army Day
  • The China Southern Airlines resumes flights to Georgia

 

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News from January 21

Armenian representatives congratulate China on the Spring Festival

On January 21, the Chinese Embassy in Armenia reported that on the occasion of the Spring Festival, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan and others extended to the Chinese government and the people holiday blessings.

 

23.1.2023 – 29.1.2023

Aliyev to China: People-to-people contacts are very important to establish closer political relations

Ilham Aliyev. Source: CGTN

On January 23, Chinese state-controlled CGTN published a video entitled “Representatives and ambassadors extend best wishes for Chinese New Year”. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, also congratulated China and said the following:

“We, Azerbaijanis, are your friends and good partners. We enjoy a very good relationship for many, many years and we really love your country. We are really glad that more and more Azerbaijanis visit China and more and more people of China visit Azerbaijan”.

He noted that people-to-people contacts were “very important” for establishing closer political relations.

“I am sure that China will continue to succeed in its economic development, in social development, and the Middle corridor which unites us will successfully be implemented,” Aliyev added.

 

Chinese Ambassador congratulates Armenia’s military personnel on the Army Day

On January 28, the Chinese Ambassador to Armenia, Fan Yong, congratulated Armenia’s military personnel on the Army Day.

The congratulatory message said: “On behalf of the entire team of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Armenia, I congratulate all military personnel of Armenia on Army Day and wish them good health, well-being, and success in work.

I wish the traditional friendship between China and Armenia to last forever, and for the two countries to cooperate in various fields to achieve new successes”.

 

The China Southern Airlines resumes flights to Georgia

The China Southern Airlines returned to the Georgian market after a three-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, Tbilisi Airport reported on January 27.

On January 27, the China Southern Airlines performed the first flight from Urumqi, Xinjiang, China to Tbilisi, Georgia.

 

Spring Festival event held at the Alte University’s Confucius Institute

On January 28, the Confucius Institute at the Alte University reported that Spring Festival Art Performance had been held at the Institute.