China Radar: South Caucasus is a monthly publication dedicated to China’s activities and influence in the three nations of South Caucasus.
China’s Presence, Activities and Influence in the South Caucasus
Economic Involvement and Connections
On 4 July, Chinese and Georgian representatives held a meeting of the Joint Commission on the Georgia-China Free Trade Agreement, conducting a “consultation on the update of the agreement.” The two sides “expressed their expectation to complete negotiations on the expansion of the free trade agreement by the end of 2025.”
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RailFreight.com reported on 10 July that “the railway companies of Azerbaijan and China agreed on increasing the number of block trains” along the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway line “to 10 per day.”
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According to Georgia’s Ministry of Economy information issued in July, “in the first five months of 2025, the number of air passengers traveling between Georgia and China climbed to 29 212, a 91% increase compared to the same period last year.” Regular flights between Georgia and China “are operated by China Southern Airlines and Air China on the Urumqi-Tbilisi-Urumqi route,” with combined 10 flights a week, and “further expansion under discussion.”
Technological Influence
Intelligence Online reported on 9 July that Armenia‘s national security service “is increasingly relying” on Chinese intelligence drones to monitor Armenian borders.
Stances and Activities by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia Benefiting China’s Foreign Policy
Support for the Belt and Road Initiative
In a meeting with the Chinese ambassador on 8 July, Armenia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, said that “the Belt and Road and Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiatives were ‘confidently comparable’ to promote cooperation based on mutual interests.”
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During political consultations held with a Chinese assistant foreign minister on 21 July, Georgia’s deputy foreign minister Alexander Khvtisiashvili “said that Georgia will continue to adhere to the One‑Chinaprinciple, actively participate in high‑quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in areas such as economy, trade and connectivity, and strengthen coordination in international affairs.”
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On 28 July, one of the leaders of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, Giorgi Volski, said that “Georgia adhered to the One-China principle and would promote the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Middle Corridor concept.”
Other Support for China and its Policies
Armenia’s First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Edward Asryan, said on 30 July that his country highly valued “the main goal of China’s foreign policy – to safeguard global peace.”