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
- Caliber.az reported on November 7 that Armenia had introduced a new generation of Chinese-made robotic platforms, often referred to as “robot dogs” into its armed forces. Reportedly, “Armenian officials note that the systems demonstrated strong performance” during recent exercises.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reportedly described the robots as “a new friend of our military”.
- On November 5, according to the Chinese state-run Xinhua, during the Orbeli Forum held in Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the similarities between the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace project and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“The strategic partnership document [with China] also references the Crossroads of Peace and Belt and Road initiatives. It is evident that the projects have overlaps in terms of content…” he noted, according to Armenpress.
- The Chinese Ambassador met with the Armenian Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan. Reportedly, they exchanged views on “further strengthening cooperation between China and Armenia in the areas of social policy”.
Azerbaijan-China
Defence cooperation
- On November 9, the Chinese state-run Global Times reported that the China-developed HQ-9 long-range anti-aircraft missile system, newly accepted into Azerbaijan’s armament, was showcased before the grandstand at a military parade held at the Azadlig Square in Baku, Azerbaijan, quoting Azerbaijani media reports.
- The JF-17 fighter jets jointly developed and manufactured by China and Pakistan also participated in the Azerbaijani military parade.
Education
On November 28, a presentation and handover ceremony was held for the “Interactive Education Assistance” project for Nakhchivan, signed between the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Commerce of China.
The Chinese Ambassador Lu Mei said that China would continue to support regional cooperation with Nakhchivan in the fields of education and digital technology.
Reportedly, a data processing centre and control room had been set up at the Ministry of Education of Nakhchivan, the relevant technical infrastructure had been installed, and a unified electronic platform had been put into operation in the institutions subordinate to the ministry. Two smart boards had also been installed in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics) centre, and 2,300 tablets had been made available to students.
Other
- On November 7, the President of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf met with the President and Executive Director of Sinopec Engineering Group Co., Ltd. of China Zhang Xinming.
The two sides exchanged views on oil and gas refining, petrochemicals, digitalisation, the energy transition and the application of modern refining technologies. They also signed a framework agreement on cooperation.
- On November 28, a delegation led by the Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Taleh Kazimov held a meeting with the Minister of the National Financial Regulatory Administration of China Li Yunze, during an official business visit to China, Azernews reported.
They discussed trends in the banking and insurance sectors, the concept of risk-based supervision, the enhancement of regulatory technologies and the application of artificial intelligence-based solutions in regulatory processes.
- On November 12, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov met with a visiting Chinese delegation led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Datang Corporation Ltd. Lyu Jun.
The Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, China Datang Overseas Investment Co. Ltd. and SOCAR Green LLC signed an Execution Agreement on the Evaluation, Development and Implementation of the 100 MW Solar Power Plant Project in Azerbaijan.
- On November 7, Azerbaijan participated in the Innovation Forum on Artificial Intelligence-Driven Digital Economy held in Shanghai, China. Azerbaijani First Deputy Minister of Economy Elnur Aliyev delivered a speech at the Innovation Forum.
Georgia-China
Georgian Dream supports Global Governance Initiative, praising China as “the only peaceful superpower”
In an interview with a Chinese state media outlet, CGTN, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that strengthening the partnership with China was a key foreign policy for his government and “crucial” for Georgia.
Regarding Xi Jinping’s four initiatives – Global Development Initiative, Global Security initiative, Global Civilisation Initiative as well as the recent Global Governance Initiative – Kobakhidze said the following: “We are very much supportive to all these initiatives, we fully support the ideas reflected in Global Governance Initiative and we just appreciate this approach by President Xi Jinping and by the Chinese government”.
He also claimed that China “is the only peaceful superpower in the modern world which is evidenced by history of the recent decades and everybody should appreciate this very important role that China is playing worldwide, and China is also role model for modernisation, for progress, for economic development”. Kobakhidze continued by saying that China was also a “fair player” in global politics.
“So that’s why strengthening ties with China is very promising for us and we attach very special importance to this cooperation,” he added. Kobakhidze noted that China was “a role model” not only in “modernisation and progress but also for peace”.
“You see in a modern world so many conflicts, so many military conflicts… and in this situation China demonstrates a fully different approach and we very much appreciate this approach,” he said.
In an interview he also noted that China was also a “role model” in terms of strategic planning: “Of course, China’s approach in terms of strategic planning is very interesting for us and it was thanks to strategic visions that you managed to achieve such a high progress during last year, so that’s why of course we very much would like to follow this experience that China has in terms of strategic planning“.
Georgia seeks comprehensive strategic partnership with China
On November 8, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili in Beijing, CGTN reported. Wang called for advancing the Belt and Road cooperation and closer coordination between the two countries under global governance initiatives, while Botchorishvili said Georgia firmly supported the one-China policy and expressed hope to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang said that China stood ready to work with Georgia to implement the Global Governance Initiative and to better safeguard the “legitimate rights and interests of the Global South”. He also welcomed Georgia to join the International Organisation for Mediation.
Georgian Dream delegation in China
- The Georgian Dream Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili joined the Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and other members of the delegation in visiting Georgia’s stands at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in China.
According to Maka Botchorishvili, Georgia participated as a guest of honour.
At the opening ceremony, Kobakhidze said: “Alongside our strong economic foundations, Georgia’s ambitious infrastructure projects, including the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, the East-West Highway, the Black Sea Submarine Cable, the Tbilisi International Airport Project, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, are transforming the country into a vital trade and transport corridor between China and Europe… Georgia remains steadfast in its partnership with China. We look forward to further improving our business environment, attracting more investment and deepening cooperation across many sectors”.
- On November 4, the Georgian Dream delegation met with the Chinese Premier Li Qiang, CGTN reported. Li reportedly said that China stood ready to further align its development strategies with Georgia and advance “high-quality Belt and Road cooperation“.
“China is ready to remain a genuine friend and good partner of Georgia, carry forward the fine tradition of mutual support, strengthen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation and jointly advance modernisation…”, he noted.
He urged both sides to take the substantive conclusion of the China-Georgia Free Trade Agreement upgrade negotiations as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and emerging industries such as the digital economy, new energy and artificial intelligence.
He said that “as members of the Global South”, China and Georgia should strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral affairs and jointly implement the four major global initiatives put forth by China.
Irakli Kobakhidze commended China’s role “as a responsible major country in safeguarding world peace and upholding fairness and justice amid global uncertainty”, saying China has brought “valuable stability” to the world.
He expressed support for the four global initiatives and willingness to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China.
Li and Kobakhidze witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents covering trade, artificial intelligence, agriculture, environmental protection, inspection and quarantine, culture and aviation.
- On November 5, Irakli Kobakhidze met the Mayor of Shanghai Gong Zheng. There, Kobakhidze said that Shanghai was one of the best examples of China`s “progress and modernisation”, noting that Tbilisi attached great importance to strengthening its cooperation with China.
Maritime sector cooperation and Georgia’s strategic projects
- On November 25, within the UN International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Assembly in London, the Georgian Dream Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili met with China’s Deputy Minister of Transport Li Yang.
She highlighted Georgia’s interest in deepening cooperation with China in the maritime sector, including the sharing of experience in “fields aligned with Georgia’s priorities” such as green transition, maritime digitalisation, education, research and development.
- Kvrivishvili reportedly also spoke about Anaklia Deepwater Port, the new Vaziani International Airport and the Railway Modernisation Project, noting that these projects played “a strategic role in advancing both the Middle Corridor and broader regional connectivity”.
Reportedly, Chinese investments “increased by 229% in the first half of 2025”.
More on BRI and Middle Corridor
- Railway companies from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed a cooperation agreement with China Railway Container Transport Corp., Ltd. (CRCT) to jointly develop the Middle Corridor.
This agreement was signed during the Second China Railway Express Cooperation Forum, held on 18 November in Xi’an, under the theme “Connecting Asia and Europe for a Shared Future.”
- Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in a November 29 interview with Xinhua during the 5th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, reportedly noted that the BRI played a crucial role in strengthening Georgia’s connectivity and deepening its cooperation with China.
He also welcomed Chinese companies to invest in Georgia’s key sectors such as energy, digital technologies and real estate.
- Air China was set to launch regular flights (two flights per week) between the capitals of Georgia and China from December 2. Air China entered the Georgian market in December 2024, and has been operating flights between Tbilisi and Urumqi twice a week.
Education
On November 15, the Georgian Dream Minister of Education, Science and Youth Givi Mikanadze was hosted by the Deputy Minister of Education of China Ren Youqun.
According to reports, the meeting focused on the need to scale up Chinese language teaching in Georgia, as well as retraining necessary personnel, establishing digital classrooms in schools, integrating artificial intelligence into the teaching-learning process, and launching Confucius Institutes in universities.
Mikanadze expressed his desire to renew the memorandum signed between the ministries. According to him, the document, which was signed in 2001, no longer meets modern requirements and needs changes. The parties agreed that work on the updated document will begin in 2026.
Other
- On November 25, the Georgian Dream State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, paid a visit to China at the invitation of the National Commission for Ethnic Affairs. The visit aimed to strengthen further cooperation between the two countries in the ethnic policy and civil integration.
Akhvlediani held meetings with the Minister of the National Commission for Ethnic Affairs Chen Ruifeng and others. During the meetings, the two sides reportedly discussed shared future priorities and explored new opportunities for cooperation.