In March 2015, while on a state visit to China, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian signed a declaration on further developing bilateral relations. Building on this, both sides later signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Promotion of the Silk Road Economic Belt. In this document, Armenia expressed its clear stance of wanting to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2016, Armenia became a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In March 2017, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank approved Armenia’s membership. China and Armenia further extended bilateral dialogue, and have deepened ties in various sectors.
Sarkissian has personally expressed a clear, positive stance on Armenia’s participation in the “Belt and Road Initiative.”
Sarkissian has personally expressed a clear, positive stance on Armenia’s participation in the “Belt and Road Initiative.” In April 2019, while attending the second Belt and Road Forum for International
Cooperation held in China, he said that Armenia’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative not only consists in cooperation with Chinese firms on developing infrastructure but can also be expanded to the data world, where the sides can create a digital BRI to help make Armenia a digital port to the world.
In recent years, Armenia’s embassy in Beijing has worked hard to build on positive signs in Sino‑Armenian cooperation, encouraging Chinese firms and people to find business opportunities in Armenia. So far, Chinese firms are actively participating in the bidding process for the third section of Armenia’s “North‑South” Highway and a transformer station, and are also conducting feasibility studies on a planned Armenia‑Iran Railways project. China and Armenia are also expanding cooperation opportunities in copper mining, cement, glass manufacturing, and other sectors.
We hope that China and Armenia can continue to achieve new milestone in cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and that both sides can continue to explore new opportunities for cooperation as part of the China–Central Asia–West Asia Economic Corridor, and thus create more tangible results.
