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
SCO
On December 4, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that China was among Armenia’s most reliable and important partners in all areas: “We are interested in developing our relations with China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”.
Education
On December 17, Armenpress reported that academics, diplomats and experts had gathered in Yerevan for the international conference “Strengthening China-Armenia Strategic Partnership: A Dialogue on Governance Experience Exchange.” The event was organized at the initiative of the Confucius Institute of the Brusov State University (Yerevan).
The Brusov State University Rector Davit Gyurjinyan reportedly emphasized the importance of the conference topic, “noting China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which calls on all countries to develop together and live in harmony”.
The Rector of the Public Administration Academy of Armenia Khachatur Ghazeyan stated that strengthening strategic cooperation with China had become “one of the important topics on Armenia’s development agenda”.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Gohar Iskandaryan said that talks were underway to sign a trilateral cooperation agreement between the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Confucius Institute and the Armenian-Chinese Friendship School.
Tourism
On December 17, China’s Ambassador to Armenia Li Xinwei said that 34,000 tourists from China had visited Armenia in just a few months and the number of tourists was increasing over time.
Azerbaijan-China
Xi Jinping’s letter
On December 19, Xi Jinping wrote a congratulatory letter addressed to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his birthday:
“Under our strategic leadership, China-Azerbaijan relations as a comprehensive strategic partnership are developing rapidly. Political mutual trust between our two countries continues to strengthen and mutually beneficial cooperation is steadily advancing, with international interaction being implemented fruitfully”.
Xi noted that he attached great importance to the development of relations between China and Azerbaijan and was ready to make “every effort with you to achieve new results in our comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of our two countries”.
SCO
On December 25, the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lu Mei said that China supported Azerbaijan’s work as the Chair of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
She also reiterated Beijing support to Azerbaijan’s aspirations to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
One-China
On December 30, the Head of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry’s press service Aykhan Hajizadeh noted that the position of Azerbaijan on the one-China policy was irreversible, clear and consistent: “Our country does not recognize the independence of Taiwan”.
BRI
On December 25, the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lu Mei held an annual media briefing and reception on the results of 2025.
The Chinese Embassy wrote that in the new year, the Chinese side was ready to work together with the Azerbaijani side to promote “high-quality cooperation” within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen the alignment of development strategies and joint use of “China’s modernization opportunities to bring even greater benefits to the peoples of the two countries and move together towards the formation of a community of common destiny of mankind”.
Party cooperation
On December 11, the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lu Mei visited the headquarters of the ruling New Azerbaijan party, where an exchange of experience in the field of public administration took place. Reportedly, the representatives of the party’s top leadership attended the event.
The Ambassador noted that the Chinese side was ready to share the opportunities opened up in the process of Chinese modernisation with the Azerbaijani side and intended to maintain the positive dynamics of cooperation between the ruling parties of the two countries.
Attendees reportedly noted that they would carefully study the recommendations of China’s Fifteenth Five-Year Plan and the fifth volume of Xi Jinping’s book. According to the Chinese Embassy, they expressed their readiness to further strengthen contacts between the ruling parties of the two countries, to deepen the exchange of experience in the field of party building, scientific and technological innovations, work with youth and other areas of public administration.
Education
- On December 25, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University and Fudan University. Reportedly, the memorandum will serve as the foundation for enhancing ties between the two institutions, expanding international cooperation and implementing joint projects in the future.
- On December 22, the memorandum of understanding was signed between Baku Engineering University and Fudan University, as well as the university’s Zhangjiang Institute and Zhongshan Translational Research Center for Immunotherapy Technologies.
Other
- On December 3, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov held a meeting with the President of China’s Universal Energy Company Nan Yi.
Reportedly, they discussed the progress in construction of the Gobustan Solar Power Plant – the first auction-based renewable energy project with the capacity of 100 MW.
The officials commended the completed installation of the first panel of the plant. The discussions also addressed the opportunities for expanding cooperation, as well as Universal Energy’s experience in long-term and safe energy storage technologies.
- On December 10, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samaddin Asadov met with a Chinese delegation from the state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) to discuss expanding cooperation in transport and logistics.
Georgia-China
Georgia-China Friendship Group
On December 4, the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia Zhou Qian held a “friendly gathering” with the Georgia-China Friendship Group of the Georgian Parliament. Georgian Dream party and People’s Power party representatives were present at the event.
The Chinese Embassy wrote that the Chinese side was willing to strengthen cooperation between the legislative bodies and deepen exchanges of experience in governance with the Georgian side “to better support each other’s development and rejuvenation”.
Middle Corridor
On December 25, the Chinese state-run Xinhua reported that a “China-built modern railway” had been put into operation in Georgia.
The project was executed by the Georgia Branch of China Railway 23rd Bureau Group Co., Ltd.
The Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili and about 150 guests attended the inauguration ceremony in Khashuri.
Reportedly, the railway stretches approximately 41 km. After the upgrade, its annual freight capacity is set to increase from 27 million to 48 million tons.
Other
- On December 2, Kunming reported Kobakhidze as saying the following: “We are pleased with this growth and will continue our efforts to strengthen transit and economic cooperation with China in all areas”.
According to him, the Belt and Road Initiative “is very important” for Georgia: “We are happy to be strengthening our connectivity capacities within the Belt and Road framework and to demonstrate our important role”.
- Starting 2 December, Air China operates twice-weekly flights (Beijing-Tbilisi) via Urumqi. It follows the Georgian Prime Minister Kobakhidze’s visit to China, and the signing of a memorandum to advance the “Air Silk Road”.
- On December 12, Imedi TV channel reported that “Me and My Chinese Story” was a winning essay in the Chinese Embassy Competition. The essay had been written by an Imedi Channel journalist Nata Makhviladze.