On September 17, Armenia’s Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and head of the Armenia-China Friendship Group, Hakob Arshakyan, met with Su Hui, Vice Chairperson of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who led a visiting delegation.
Arshakyan stated that Armenia is interested in deepening cooperation with China. He emphasized the friendly nature of bilateral relations and the need for expanding high-level mutual visits.
He reviewed trends in Armenian-Chinese economic relations in recent years, noting significant growth in trade turnover. Despite this progress, he pointed to untapped potential in both trade and energy sectors, stressing the need for more effective engagement. In this context, he highlighted the role of the intergovernmental commission coordinating economic cooperation.
Arshakyan also addressed the importance of closer cooperation in technology, focusing on potential joint projects within Armenia’s Engineering City and Academic City initiatives.
According to the parliament's statement, Arshakyan emphasized Armenia's interest in cooperating with China on international platforms as well, enhancing bilateral and multilateral engagement.
He briefed the Chinese delegation on regional developments, reaffirming Armenia’s commitment to stable peace in the South Caucasus. He referred to the trilateral talks in Washington between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the U.S., and the resulting pre-signed peace agreement and declaration as major steps forward.
However, he also noted unresolved humanitarian issues, including the continued detention of 23 Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.
Arshakyan presented the Crossroads of Peace initiative, launched by the Armenian government, which aims to foster regional connectivity and economic growth, describing it as potentially strategic for the broader region.
In response, Su Hui thanked Arshakyan for the invitation and recalled his 2024 visit to China, noting that it significantly boosted bilateral ties. She highlighted the 2025 declaration on a strategic partnership between the two countries as opening new opportunities for cooperation.
The Chinese side also underscored the importance of active parliamentary engagement and expressed appreciation for Armenia’s support of the “One China” policy and other areas of cooperation.
The sides explored paths for deepening cooperation in various sectors, based on existing mutual trust and friendship.
The meeting was attended by members of the friendship group, including the chair of the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security Andranik Kocharyan, and MPs Alexey Sandikov and Gegham Nazaryan.
