On June 19, a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia and head of the Armenia-China Friendship Group Hakob Arshakyan met in Beijing with Lu Qingqiang, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress of China and head of the China-Armenia Friendship Group.
According to the press service of the Armenian Parliament, Hakob Arshakyan emphasized that Armenia views relations with China as one of the key priorities of its foreign policy. "This is included in the Armenian government's program for 2021-2026," he noted.
The Deputy Speaker presented the peace process and regional developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as agreements reached based on the Alma-Ata Declaration on demarcation and delimitation. "Our region needs long-term peace. The peace agenda has no alternative in our region. Unblocking transport infrastructure is an important factor in establishing a stable and long-lasting peace in the region. The "Crossroads of Peace" project will serve not only our region but also international logistics projects connecting North with South and East with West," Arshakyan highlighted.
Lu Qingqiang stressed that China respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia and supports the process of peaceful resolution of regional issues. He also emphasized the need for long-term peace.
The meeting discussed issues related to road construction, energy, and the development of high technologies. Special attention was given to the launch of direct flights between China and Armenia, which is important for deepening cooperation in tourism and international passenger and cargo transportation.
Mechanisms for promoting Armenian products in the Chinese market, participation of Armenian entrepreneurs in exhibitions in China, and ensuring product accessibility were also discussed.
The importance of further developing relations between China and Armenia was emphasized during the meeting.
Earlier, BMG reported that according to the Statistical Committee, from January to April 2024, China ranked third in trade volume with Armenia, with a total of $1.03 billion. Trade with China increased by 61% in the first four months of 2024. Notably, exports from Armenia to China surged 4.4 times to $588 million, while imports decreased by 12% to $445 million.
