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The newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Armenia, Li Xinwei, has expressed his readiness to work with Armenian partners to implement key agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries, expand and deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and promote new developments in Armenian-Chinese relations.
Ambassador Li Xinwei made these remarks during an official reception held at the Chinese Embassy to mark the start of his diplomatic mission. The event was attended by high-ranking Armenian officials, as well as ambassadors and representatives from a number of countries accredited to the Republic of Armenia.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Ambassador Li noted that this is his first visit to Armenia,a country with a rich history.
“This is a great honor and a serious responsibility for me, and at the same time a new beginning and a new stage in my diplomatic career. Within a week of my arrival in Armenia, I officially presented my credentials to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan. I then held meetings with the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Defense, Suren Papikyan, as well as representatives of various Armenian departments and institutions.”
The ambassador emphasized that during these meetings he clearly felt the Armenian government’s and people’s friendly attitude towards China and the Chinese people, as well as Armenia’s willingness to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation.
According to Li Xinwei, over the past 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Armenia have always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.
“The foundation of political mutual trust remains solid. Both sides consistently support each other’s core interests and major concerns. China highly appreciates Armenia’s continued support for the 'One China' principle. China and Armenia respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and provide mutual support in these areas. The friendly interactions between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the BRICS Summit and the 80th anniversary celebrations of the victory in the Great Patriotic War have given new impetus to bilateral relations.”
He added that bilateral practical cooperation is developing steadily and purposefully. In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Armenia reached $2.8 billion, marking a 34% increase compared to the previous year.
“Armenia was among the first countries to respond to and join the Belt and Road Initiative. A number of significant projects have been successfully implemented within the framework of bilateral cooperation. The Armenian-Chinese Friendship School is gaining popularity, a solar photovoltaic station built by a Chinese company has been successfully connected to Armenia’s power grid and the construction of the new 8th pavilion of the Public Television Company of Armenia, supported by the Chinese government, is progressing smoothly.”
Li also highlighted the growing interest among young Armenians in learning Chinese and exploring Chinese culture. The number of Confucius Institute students and Chinese language teaching centers continues to rise.
“I recently attended the third education and labor exhibition in China and witnessed firsthand the strong interest among young Armenians in studying in China.”
A visa-free regime is in place between the two countries, and a direct Yerevan–Urumqi flight was launched last year.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
“The peoples of China and Armenia, who made great sacrifices, contributed significantly to the global anti-fascist struggle. In the final stage of World War II, particularly in 1945, more than 6,000 Armenian soldiers serving in the Red Army of the Soviet Union were sent to Northeast China to take part in military operations against Japan, opening a new chapter of shared struggle and brotherhood,” Li said.
The ambassador noted that China and Armenia are both part of the "big family" of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). As SCO chair, China will host the SCO summit in Tianjin this fall.
“The SCO is the world's largest regional organization. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Armenian partners within the SCO framework to jointly build a shared home based on peace, stability, mutual trust, and prosperity. Currently, China-Armenia relations are entering a significant stage of stable and forward-looking development. The Chinese Embassy in Armenia will continue to uphold the principle of ‘diplomacy for the people’ and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and organizations in Armenia,” Ambassador Li concluded.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Mnatsakan Safaryan, congratulated the new ambassador on his appointment and emphasized that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, ties based on mutual respect and trust have steadily developed across all fields.
“The high level of political dialogue between our countries is also reflected in our positions on matters of mutual concern. Geographically distant, our countries nevertheless share much in common- human potential, rich history, cultural heritage, and commitment to values.Today, summing up the important achievements of the past 30 years, we are entering a new phase in which, by fully realizing the existing potential, new accomplishments are expected. In this period marked by international and regional uncertainty, building a strong and reliable partnership between friendly nations is more important than ever,” he added.