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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 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)
19.10.2020 – 25.10.2020 Azerbaijani media: Azerbaijan’s friend He Ping appointed as the President of Xinhua News Agency Azerbaijani Trend news agency reported on October 20 that Azerbaijan’s and Azerbaijani media outlet AZERTAC’s “friend” He Ping has been appointed the President of Xinhua News Agency - one of the most popular of the Chinese state media outlets. According to Trend, He Ping played an important role in developing cooperation between Xinhua and AZERTAC. According to the agency, a Xinhua delegation led by He Ping visited Azerbaijan in September 2018. During the meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) Aslan Aslanov, the sides praised cooperation between the two agencies. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also received the delegation led by He Ping and hailed Xinhua`s good cooperation with AZERTAC. During the meeting, He Ping noted the importance of agreements on cooperation signed between Xinhua and AZERTAC, pointing out the significance of further expanding this cooperation.
Face masks sent by Xinjiang Economic Exchange Association donated to a Georgian hospital 4000 face masks sent to Georgia’s Partnership Fund by the Xinjiang Economic Exchange Association for Central & Western Asia and Scientific Industries Cooperation Committee of China’s Industrial Technology Association were donated to the Republican Clinical Hospital of Batumi (Adjara), Georgian media reported on October 25. Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Adjara region Nino Nizharadze, and a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party and CEO of Georgia's Partnership Fund, David Saganelidze, attended the event.
China on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Maintaining peace and stability in the region serves the interests of all sides On October 23, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Speaker Zhao Lijian was asked by a Russian state media journalist what was China's position on the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh as a UNSC member and whether China was willing to make any intermediate efforts. “China's position on this issue is consistent and clear. Maintaining peace and stability in the region serves the interests of all sides including Armenia and Azerbaijan. We hope relevant sides will stay cool-headed, exercise restraint, observe the hard-won ceasefire consensus, avoid further escalation, and resolve differences through political dialogue”. - Zhao Lijian answered.
26.10.2020 – 1.11.2020 CPC Secretary of Guangzhou supports Georgian Belt & Road Business House project On October 29, Zhang Shuofu, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party and Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Party Committee, visited the Georgian Belt and Road Business House. The founder of the Georgian Belt and Road Business House Bekar Mikaberidze informed the Secretary of the Party Committee about the action plans of the organization and presented the list of countries that will join the exhibition space opened by the organization: Georgia, China, Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia, Ecuador, Argentina, Thailand, India, Nepal, Iran, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt. As the Georgian Business House reports, at this stage, the representation of 15 countries, in the central exhibition area of the largest business plaza "One Link" in the central district of Guangzhou, Yuexiu, presents its products, tourism, introduces visitors to the attractive investment environment, culture and history of the country. “The Belt and Road Business House of Georgia unequivocally responds to the initiative of the President of the People's Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping, to unite the Silk Road countries and acts purposefully for the full implementation of this initiative. Our main goal is to unite the Silk Road countries under one umbrella, also to establish peaceful and profitable business relations, to get to know the potential of each of the other countries in all important areas”. - Mikaberidze said.
Chinese Ambassador: on COVID-19, we are ready to assist the Georgian side within our capabilities On October 26, in an interview with a Georgian journalist, Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Li Yan once again praised China’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also made comments about the recently increasing spread of the virus in Georgia and said that China is paying close attention to the situation. “We see that the Georgian government and medical staff have intensified their work, and there is close cooperation from the public... China is ready to share experience in the epidemiological prevention and control in the future, we are ready to assist the Georgian side within our capabilities.” - Ambassador noted. During the interview, Li Yan also talked about the development of the Chinese city of Shenzhen that according to her words “brilliantly demonstrates the socialism with Chinese characters”, and discussed China’s policies on the poverty elimination. As she noted, according to a World Bank report, "Belt and Road Initiative" will help 7.6 million people escape extreme poverty and 32 million people escape moderate poverty. “Winds and waves will never stop China. China will stand firm on the side of historical justice, expand openness in every way, help build an open world economy and build a “society with a shared future” - said the Ambassador.
Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation held an online conference with a Chinese company
Source: Azertac Representatives of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation AZPROMO and the Chinese company Sino-Foreign held an online conference, AZERTAC reported on October 26. At the meeting, Azerbaijan’s commercial representative to China Teymur Nadiroglu stressed the importance of expanding the relationship between the two sides. Acting head of AZPROMO Yusif Abdullayev talked about the popularization of the “Made in Azerbaijan” brand in foreign markets. Sino-Foreign company manager Wang Wei emphasized the significance of establishing a relationship between the two parties. Exports of Azerbaijani products to China were also discussed at the meeting.
Georgian Ambassador to China notes the importance of large Chinese companies entering the Georgian market
Georgian Ambassador (third from the right) during the meeting. Source: Embassy of Georgia to the People's Republic of China On October 29, the Ambassador of Georgia to China Archil Kalandia made a presentation to the representatives of Chinese business circles on the investment opportunities in Georgia. According to the Embassy of Georgia to China, the Ambassador focused on the positioning of Georgia as a transport, trade and logistics hub in the region. He noted the importance of large Chinese companies entering the Georgian market, and spoke about the liberal tax system, trade regimes and favourable conditions for business in Georgia. The event was organized by the Silk-Road Industry and Finance International Alliance and was attended by representatives of nearly 30 major Chinese investment companies.
Chinese company dispatched a tunnel-boring machine to Georgia According to Chinese state media, a subsidiary of state-owned China Railway Group Ltd, China Railway Hi-Tech Industry Co Ltd, dispatched a tunnel-boring machine to Georgia for the construction of its North-South Corridor (Kvesheti-Kobi) road project. “The mammoth machine measures 15.08 meters in diameter and weighs 3,900 metric tons. It will be deployed in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of eastern Georgia to carve out tunnels in the mountains”. - China Daily wrote on October 30.
2.11.2020 – 8.11.2020 Chinese Ambassador in Azerbaijan: China hopes for the soonest settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Source: Sahiba Gafarova The speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova held a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min. Guo Min said that China hopes for the soonest settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and for peace and stability to be soon ensured in the region. Gafarova said she had had comprehensive discussions on inter-parliamentary and inter-governmental relations between the “friendly nations” of Azerbaijan and China. According to news.az, Sahiba Gafarova informed the Chinese diplomat about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the current situation on the frontline.
Georgian Ambassador to China notes intensifying business contacts between the two countries
Georgian Ambassador to China during an interview with Chinese state media. Source: Embassy of Georgia to the People’s Republic of China From November 5 to 9, the Georgian Ambassador Archil Kalandia went on a business trip to Shanghai, where he attended the third China International Import Expo. The Ambassador also participated in the forums held within the Expo - Belt and Road Tourism Industry International Cooperation Forum and Shanghai Silk Road Health Forum. According to the Embassy of Georgia to China, in interviews with the Chinese state media the Ambassador noted the importance of intensifying business contacts between Georgia and China and increasing imports of Georgian products on the Chinese market. The Ambassador also held meetings with the representatives of business circles that included the Deputy General Director of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce and with the CEO of Global Skyway Supply Chain Management Co., LTD.
Georgian Minister of Economy: China International Import Expo has particular importance to the world economy, including Georgia
Natia Turnava participates in the online opening ceremony of CIIF. Source: Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava took part in the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE). Deputy Minister Genadi Arveladze also attended the online event. “In the light of the current ongoing pandemic, the global challenges caused by COVID-19, holding an import expo in Shanghai has particular importance to the world economy, including Georgia”, the Minister said. The Minister added that last year 33 Georgian companies participated in the Shanghai Import Expo. According to her, this is an unprecedentedly big number compared to other similar international exhibitions where Georgian companies have participated with the support of the Georgian government. As Natia Turnava noted, “the participation of Georgian companies in the Chinese Import Expo has significantly contributed to the promotion of Georgian products, raising the awareness of our country and most importantly, increasing exports to the Chinese market”.
Azerbaijani products presented at the third China International Import Expo
On November 6, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Akram Zeynalli attended the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Rovshan Najaf attended the ceremony through videoconference. Products such as pomegranate juice, hazelnuts, wine, mineral water, jams and others by more than 20 Azerbaijani companies were exhibited at the CIIE. According to the Azerbaijani media, during the CIIE, the question of increasing imports of Azerbaijani products to the Chinese market also was to be discussed. According to MENAFN, the exhibition, initiated and sponsored by Chairman Xi Jinping, aims to promote the entry of foreign goods and services in the Chinese market.
CEO of Georgia's Partnership Fund participates in CIIE
Davit Saganelidze. Source: Georgia’s Partnership Fund A member of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the CEO of Georgia’s Partnership Fund, Davit Saganelidze, participated in the online opening ceremony of China’s Third International Import Expo (CIIE), on November 6, the Partnership Fund reported. At the International Expo, General Secretary of CPC, Xi Jinping, addressed the audience with a video address. As the Partnership Fund reports, last year within the China International Import exhibition, in order to promote the export of Georgian products, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Partnership Fund and the Chinese company DLG International Trade Group, which, from the Chinese side, provides the necessary consulting, human resources and services for Georgia to establish itself in the Chinese market, as well as promoting logistics, distribution, sales, and assistance to the interested Chinese companies in finding investment and trade cooperation opportunities in Georgia.
9.11.2020 – 15.11.2020 China on Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire: We will work with Russia and other members of the international community and play a constructive role for regional peace and stability On November 11, Speaker of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin commented on the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire deal and the deployment of the Russian peacekeeping troops. “China has noted relevant reports. China maintains that it serves the interests of all parties, including Azerbaijan and Armenia, to properly resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. We hope relevant countries will observe the ceasefire agreement, avoid further escalation and resolve disputes through political dialogue”. - Wang Wenbin said. He noted that China will work with Russia and other members of the international community and play a “constructive role for regional peace and stability”.
Former Georgian Ambassador to China praises Beijing’s COVID-19 response A former Georgian Ambassador to China David Aptsiauri (presently the General Director at Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) says that the hosting of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) as scheduled proves that China has successfully contained the COVID-19 pandemic within its borders and is ready to contribute to the global economic recovery, Chinese State media reported on November 14. According to Aptsiauri, despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the opening of the CIIE fully demonstrates that “China has been continuously modernizing its national economy and expanding imports from the rest of the world”.
Hong Kong, mainland China among the largest exporters of mobile phones to Georgia In January-September 2020, Georgia purchased mobile phones worth $114.5 million, Bm.ge reported on November 15. Hong Kong was the third-largest exporter of mobile phones to Georgia ($15.2 million) while mainland China was the fifth-largest one ($4.6 million). |
