China’s Engagement in the South Caucasus and Kazakhstan (October 6–12)
Georgia
Chinese Influencers and Bloggers Visit Tbilisi
Organized by the City Service of Economic Development of Tbilisi City Hall, representatives of China’s digital media and tourism sector, including bloggers and members of tourism associations, visited Tbilisi. The delegation was welcomed by Vakhtang Lomjaria, Head of the City Service of Economic Development.
As part of a digital promotion campaign, the visiting media representatives will share content on their platforms showcasing Tbilisi’s tourist attractions and opportunities, aiming to attract more Chinese tourists to Georgia.
October 10, 2025
Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank to Attend Tbilisi Silk Road Forum
Ingmin Yang, Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will participate in the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, scheduled to take place on October 22–23 in Tbilisi.
During the forum, Ingmin Yang will speak at the panel discussion titled “Middle Corridor: From Reliability to Efficiency.”
Before his appointment as Vice-President of the ADB, Ingmin Yang held several leadership positions at the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.
October 10, 2025
Prime Minister Kobakhidze Meets with Chinese Ambassador
Ivanishvili’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with the Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, Zhou Qian.
According to the information released by the Press Service of Ivanishvili’s Government, the Ambassador congratulated Prime Minister Kobakhidze on the ruling party’s “convincing victory” in the recent local elections.
During the meeting, Ambassador Zhou Qian also delivered an official invitation from the Chinese side to attend the 8th China International Import Expo, scheduled to be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10.
It is noteworthy that the bilateral meetings between Irakli Kobakhidze and the Ambassador of China are held on a regular basis. Specifically, prior to the meeting on October 10, Kobakhidze had met with the Chinese Ambassador three times during the year. Consequently, it gives the impression that the regular diplomatic meetings with the Chinese Ambassador have turned into a kind of series of political consultations.
October 10, 2025
Armenia
Armenian Prime Minister met AIIB Representative
Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan on Friday received Konstantin Limitovskiy, Chief Investment Officer for Public Sector (Region 2) & Project and Corporate Finance (Global) Clients of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), according to the Armenian government press service.
Khachatryan claimed that Armenia’s membership in the AIIB will create new opportunities for participation in large regional investment projects, as well as for attracting both public and private capital to implement programs in various sectors in the country.
In turn, Limitovskiy emphasized the importance of the AIIB developing partnership relations with Armenia, and expressed confidence that his visit to the country would provide a good opportunity to become acquainted with the infrastructure projects being implemented in Armenia, as well as to outline the main directions of bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on possible domains of cooperation, particularly discussing a wide range of matters related to major infrastructure projects, energy, water management, and several other sectors.
October 10, 2025
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) Celebrates the Chinese “Mid-Autumn” Festival
The Confucius Institute at the Azerbaijan University of Languages celebrated the traditional Chinese “Mid-Autumn” Festival with a cultural event highlighting the history and customs associated with the occasion.
During the celebration, Confucius Institute teacher Kamala Mammadova and Director Rafig Abbasov spoke about the origins of the festival, the symbolism of the Moon Cake, and various other cultural traditions. As part of the event, university students recited poems by Chinese authors.
October 6, 2025
Azerbaijani Student Wins Competition in China
Kamil Buniatov, a student of the Confucius Institute at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, participated in the final stage of the 18th International “Chinese Bridge” Competition for school students, held in Tianjin, China.
During the competition, Kamil Buniatov received an award “For Outstanding Achievement” and earned a scholarship to study in China, recognizing his excellence in Chinese language and cultural proficiency.
October 7, 2025
Sino-Azerbaijani Economic Partnership Prospects Discussed
Representatives of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) met with a delegation from the Chinese Overseas Development Association, led by its President Xu Jianping.
During the meeting, the parties discussed ways to deepen bilateral economic cooperation, explore opportunities for establishing partnerships with the Association and its member companies, and consider prospects for creating a formal framework to strengthen long-term collaboration between Azerbaijan and China.
October 7, 2025
Chinese Technologies Utilized in the Bilasuvar Solar Power Station
In Azerbaijan’s Bilasuvar District, construction is underway on a 445 MW solar power station, scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
According to official information, the project is being implemented using technologies produced by the Chinese company JA Solar. The station will include more than 943,000 Chinese-made solar panels, highlighting the growing role of Chinese renewable energy technologies in Azerbaijan’s energy sector.
October 9, 2025
Cutting-Edge Laboratory Opens in East Kazakhstan
On October 8, an ultra-modern veterinary laboratory was officially inaugurated in the East Kazakhstan region. This project was executed under an intergovernmental agreement between Kazakhstan and China. The primary objective of opening the laboratory is to enhance the level of food safety and strengthen the country’s agricultural export potential.
The facility has received accreditation under both international (ISO 17025) and Chinese standards, which will enable Kazakhstan to expand its exports of agricultural products to China and other markets without facing technical barriers. As part of the cooperation, the Government of China provided the institution with 99 units of modern laboratory equipment, valued at 840 million Tenge. Annually, the laboratory is capable of conducting up to 550,000 tests for particularly dangerous infections and food safety indicators.
Astana Conference: China Supports Upholding International Law Norms
Last week, on October 8, Astana hosted a regional conference dedicated to strengthening political commitment to International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This initiative was established in 2024 at the UN General Assembly by six states—Kazakhstan, China, Brazil, France, Jordan, and South Africa—and aims to overcome the problem of the practical non-compliance with international law norms during armed conflicts.
The conference was attended by the Chinese side, and the meeting discussed practical mechanisms that will facilitate the better enforcement and functioning of international law in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. China’s active participation in this political process clearly demonstrates Beijing’s strategic ambition to expand its influence into non-military spheres of global governance.
Kazakhstan Among China's Top Five Most Sought-After Destinations for Hotel Bookings
According to data from October 9, Kazakhstan has ranked among the top five fastest-growing international destinations for Chinese travelers in terms of hotel reservations. According to “Kazakh Tourism,” this trend is linked to China’s eight-day National Day Holiday and the Mid-Autumn Festival breaks.
Data confirms the effectiveness of the bilateral visa-free regime policy: the number of tourists arriving in Kazakhstan from China reached 675,000 during the first nine months of the current year, marking a significant increase compared to the analogous period last year (655,000). This surge is further supported by growing digital interest: according to China’s largest search engine, “Baidu,” the daily search frequency regarding Kazakhstan reached 430,000, with particularly high activity observed from the economically strong regions of Guangdong and Beijing.
Kazakhstan Expands Strategic Investment Projects with China
In an article published on October 10 by the Kazinform International News Agency, it is noted that 14 major investment projects will be implemented in West Kazakhstan as part of a direct directive from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This initiative underscores the strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan. Chinese investors plan to inject over 134 billion Tenge into key sectors of the region’s economy.
The entire package of projects, which will be executed by a single Chinese consortium, serves various objectives. For example, the first phase involves the construction of a 34-megawatt gas power plant in the industrial zone, ensuring a stable energy supply for future enterprises. The Chinese company, VEGA Power, announced that the project is phased, with the initial investment totaling $30 million USD.
October 10, 2025
Kazakhstan Expands Mining and Metallurgy Production with China's Assistance
This week, on October 13, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, met with Chen Jing He, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China’s world-class metallurgical giant, Zijin Mining Group. The central topic of the negotiations was the deepening of investment cooperation in the mining and metallurgical sector.
The parties agreed to work jointly on a large-scale mining and metallurgical investment complex project in the Akmola region. Prime Minister Bektenov emphasized the Kazakh government’s support for projects that possess high added value. This type of partnership is essential for expanding mineral production, creating permanent jobs, and introducing ecologically sustainable, advanced technologies.
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