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 178th out of 180 countries).
Armenia-China
- On October 20, News.am reported that representatives of the Road Department Foundation of Armenia were participating in a training course on tunnel engineering and technologies designed for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
- On October 21, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of China to Armenia Li Xinwei. The Mayor of Yerevan emphasised “the effective cooperation” established with the city of Qingdao.
Azerbaijan-China
Azerbaijan discusses implementation of the smart city concept based on Huawei’s experience
On October 30, Azerbaijani officials discussed the application of artificial intelligence solutions with the Chinese Huawei Enterprise Business Group, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev wrote on his X account.
Nabiyev said that, while meeting the President of Huawei Enterprise Business Group for the Middle East and Central Asia Hao Zhichen, they had exchanged views on the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence technologies in e-government platforms, the implementation of the smart city concept based on Huawei’s experience and the implementation of joint initiatives for the development of human capital.
Middle Corridor
- On October 27, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, part of the AZCON Holding, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with China’s Xi’an Port to enhance international transport and logistics cooperation.
The document reportedly outlines joint measures to foster a favourable environment for international cargo transport, enhance service quality through digitalisation and expand multimodal transport connections along the Middle Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The agreement outlines joint efforts to optimize container train operations, reduce transport times, improve the Middle Corridor, modernize railway and port infrastructure, enhance Caspian Sea cargo transport mechanisms, expand the functionality of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, strengthen connections with the Turkish and European rail networks, and attract more transit cargo. The agreement also envisions real-time monitoring of shipments through an electronic data exchange system.
Azerbaijan Railways and Xi’an Port also pledged to explore joint investments, construction projects and shared infrastructure models.
- In January-September 2025, Azerbaijan Railways reportedly handled 296 block trains, including 113 transit trains. In total, over 103,000 TEU of container cargo was transported, 20% more than the same period of 2024 (86,413).
Other
- On October 17, six members of the Judges Association of Taiwan could not attend the International Association of Judges annual conference in Azerbaijan after being denied visas and entry permits.
- On October 29, Azernews reported that Azerbaijan and China’s Xi’an city had discussed the potential for establishing direct air connections, as well as prospects for cooperation in artificial intelligence, digitalization, and other fields.
- A round table titled “Economic and trade cooperation between China’s Shaanxi Province and Azerbaijan” was held in Baku, organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency, as part of the visit by the delegation of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to Azerbaijan, Azernews reported on October 24.
- On October 27, Chinese delegation led by the Vice President of China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited (CEEC) Xu Lu met with Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.
Shahbazov noted ongoing efforts to establish “green energy zones” and deepen cooperation with Chinese companies. He also commended the company’s role in the construction and equipment of solar power plants with a total capacity of 760 MW in Bilasuvar and Neftchala.
The two sides also discussed views on electricity transmission projects linking Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Turkey and Europe, as well as potential areas for future cooperation with CEEC.
- On October 29, the Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency Fuad Nagiyev met with the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lu Mei. The Chinese side expressed eagerness to explore investment opportunities in Azerbaijan’s tourism sector, including various tourism projects such as cultural tourism and gastronomy tourism.
Georgia-China
Law enforcement cooperation
On October 31, Georgian Dream Minister of Internal Affairs Geka Geladze held a meeting with the Ambassador of China Zhou Qian.
“The Minister of Internal Affairs focused on the importance of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries and noted that the partnership between Georgia and the People’s Republic of China in this direction was developing dynamically,” 1TV reported.
Economic relations between China and the Russia-occupied Abkhazian region
On October 24, Eurasianet’s Diego Benning Wang published an article entitled ”Unpacking China’s increasing influence in Abkhazia.” According to the report, representatives of the Russian-occupied Abkhazia’s so-called Chamber of Commerce had signed a memorandum of understanding with a trade delegation from China’s southern Guangdong Province in late September.
The author noted that reports of the signing were removed from all of the Abkhaz chamber’s communications platforms within 48 hours after their initial publication.
On September 29, Tbilisi-based Abkhazeti.info reported that “Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Abkhazia” took part in China’s Food2China Expo 2025.
Reportedly, “an important event of the visit” was a business meeting at the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, which was held with the participation of “high-ranking representatives of the Chinese side, Vice Presidents Hu Ruqing and Jiang Zuomu, as well as Deputy Secretary General He Yuanqi of the Guangdong Trade Union”.
The report said that “Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia” and Guangdong Chamber of Commerce and Industry had signed a Protocol of Intent.
Reportedly, the document lays the foundation for long-term cooperation, including the organization of business missions, information exchange and joint work to promote “Abkhaz products” to the market of Guangdong Province.
During the negotiations, increasing trade turnover was also discussed, along with simplifying administrative procedures, requirements for the necessary documentation for deliveries, and specific steps to establish direct contacts between business communities. Reportedly, the targeted requests of so-called Abkhaz representatives from the banking sector, food industry and tourism were “examined in detail”.
The news about the exhibition was also shared by the “Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia”, showcasing products. The so-called president of the organisation Tamila Mertskhulava said that “trade turnover between the Republic of Abkhazia and the People’s Republic of China” was increasing every year.
The photo from the exhibition shows flags of the Sokhumi proxy regime in occupied Abkhazia and, at the Chinese exhibition, the organisation was presented as “The Chamber of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia”.
Kobakhidze meets the Chinese Ambassador
On October 13, Civil.ge reported that Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Chinese Ambassador Zhou Qian. It was their fifth meeting since December 2024 and the second in the past three weeks.
Zhou congratulated Kobakhidze on the ruling party’s “convincing victory” in the October 4 municipal elections.
Foreign policy priorities
- On October 24, the Chinese Ambassador met with the Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili. Reportedly, the dynamics of relations within the framework of the strategic partnership and issues of cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, education and culture were discussed.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy statement said that China was willing to work together with Georgia to “further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, deepen cooperation in various fields, and support each other in international affairs“.
- In an October 7 interview with Georgian Times’ Malkhaz Gulashvili, while discussing the Global Governance Initiative, the Chinese Ambassador noted that China was ready to work with all countries, including Georgia, to promote “equal rights and equal opportunities for every country and so as to achieve win-win cooperation and common development”.
- On October 16, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Zhou Qian published an article in Rezonansi entitled “The One China principle is indisputable“.
In the article, he noted that China appreciated Georgia’s “long-standing commitment to the one-China principle” and was ready to work with Georgia to continue to safeguard “each other’s core interests, the international system based on the United Nations, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and to help humanity move towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress”.
Chinese Ambassador regarding not inviting Georgia to China’s military parade
In an October 7 interview with Georgian Times’ Malkhaz Gulashvili, while answering Gulashvili’s question regarding Georgia not being invited to China’s military parade to mark “the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War”, the Chinese Ambassador said that Maka Botchorishvili had spoken about this issue and that he would roughly repeat her opinion.
“As far as I know, the foreign leaders who participated in the SCO Tianjin Summit were invited to participate in the September 3 military parade and other commemorative events. Georgia is not a member or partner of the SCO, so it did not participate in the SCO Tianjin Summit and was not invited to participate in the September 3rd ceremony,” he noted.
The invitation criteria were not based on SCO participation. India, a member of the SCO, was not invited to the parade, while, for example, Slovakia was.
26 leaders were invited, mostly from Asia, but from all five continents, including those of Armenia and Azerbaijan. From the European leaders, only the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico was invited. Orbán was not present, but a representative of the Hungarian Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó was.
Lao Jin Jao museum to open in Adjara
On October 31, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Kobuleti and Zhaoqing.
Kobuleti city hall also reported that a museum would be built in the Lao Jin Zhao farmhouse in the near future. Reportedly, Lao Jin Jao, whose name is associated with the introduction and development of tea culture in Adjara, was originally from Zhaoqing.
Bm.ge reported that Lao Jin Jao Museum in Chakvi would open by the end of the year: “The second stage of the house’s rehabilitation works should be completed by December 20. The relevant tender was announced by the Adjara Cultural Heritage Protection Agency on October 25”.
The Lao Jin Jao house has had the status of a cultural heritage monument since 2016.
According to Kobuleti city hall, the Chinese side is actively involved in the work.