Irakli Kobakhidze says Georgian exports to China increased by 177 percent
7 October
On 7 October, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze discussed indicators of economic cooperation with China at a cabinet meeting. He said Georgian exports to China increased by 177% in January-August 2026, describing this as a practical outcome of the expansion of the free trade agreement.
According to Kobakhidze, foreign direct investment from China in Georgia totalled approximately US$236 million in the first half of the year. This made China the largest investor in Georgia among source countries.
The prime minister also highlighted the importance of direct flights in deepening economic ties. He said there were 14 flights a week between Georgia and China, helping to expand economic relations between the two countries.
Sakpatenti signs memorandum of cooperation with China’s intellectual property authority
10 October
Sakpatenti and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) signed a memorandum of cooperation. The document was signed on 10 October by Sakpatenti Chairman Soso Giorgadze and CNIPA Deputy Commissioner Rui Wenbiao.
At the meeting, the parties discussed holding joint educational events, sharing existing training resources and jointly developing new materials. They also discussed exchanges of knowledge and experience among intellectual property experts. During the visit, members of the delegation attended the opening of an intellectual property education and training centre in Kutaisi.
23 Chinese students selected to study in Azerbaijan
On 5 October, 23 Chinese students secured places at Azerbaijani universities for the 2026-2027 academic year. They will receive support through an intergovernmental scholarship programme implemented under a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ education ministries.
According to Azerbaijan’s State Agency for Science and Higher Education, the students will pursue master’s and doctoral degrees. They will study at Baku State University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Azerbaijan Technical University and Baku Slavic University. Their fields of study include education, the humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and technical disciplines.
Plans to facilitate freight transport along the Middle Corridor
6 October
On 6 October, Emil Mammadov, an adviser to the chairman of Azerbaijan Railways, announced a study of bottlenecks affecting freight transport along the southern branch of the Middle Corridor. Speaking at a Germany-Azerbaijan cooperation conference in Baku, he said the work would begin in October.
The study will cover the route linking Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan with Azerbaijan and Georgia across the Caspian Sea. The assessment will identify transport problems and determine the next steps needed to develop the route.
Mammadov also discussed the Middle Corridor Multimodal joint venture, which brings together Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and China. He explained that service coordination and a “single window” system are intended to make it easier for cargo owners to arrange shipments and track their cargo’s location and stage of transit.
Azerbaijan discusses agricultural technology cooperation with China’s DBN Group
10 October
On 10 October, an Azerbaijani delegation visiting China, led by Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov, visited the agricultural technology company DBN Tech Group in Beijing. At a meeting with the company’s management, the parties discussed opportunities for cooperation in the agricultural sector.
Mammadov outlined Azerbaijan’s agricultural development plans to the company’s representatives, including the state programme for 2026-2030. The programme envisages developing production and processing and moving towards a more productive, competitive model. The minister highlighted the importance of cooperation with Chinese companies in achieving these goals and invited DBN Tech Group to participate in Caspian Agro, Azerbaijan’s annual international agricultural exhibition.
Armenian regulator discusses prospects for 5G development and 6G deployment with Huawei
6 October
On 6 October, Mesrop Mesropyan, chairman of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission, met a delegation from the Chinese company Huawei. The delegation included Zhao Hongbo, head of the company’s Armenia office, its strategy director for the Middle East and Central Asia, and other experts.
The company’s representatives presented international trends and opportunities in 5G development and 6G deployment. The parties discussed technological upgrades in the telecommunications sector and the use of next-generation communications technologies. Commission representatives outlined the steps and programmes planned in this area. At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue professional dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest.
Yerevan hosts third Chinese song competition for university students
8 October
On 8 October, the third Chinese song competition for university students was held at the Russian-Armenian University. The event was organised by the university’s Confucius Classroom and the Confucius Institute at Valery Brusov State University, with support from the Chinese Embassy.
Chinese Ambassador Li Xinwei and Russian-Armenian University Rector Eduard Sandoyan attended the competition. The ambassador said educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries had deepened since the establishment of their strategic partnership.
Eighteen students from various Armenian universities took part in the final. Lilit Kherunts and Ani Kazaryan, students at the Komitas Yerevan State Conservatory, took first and second place, respectively, while Milena Arakelyan of the Russian-Armenian University came third. The winners received prizes from the Chinese Embassy.
Kyrgyzstan discusses integrating railway link to China with regional routes
8 October
Regional meetings held in Turkmenbashi on 7-8 October addressed links between the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and other transport routes, as well as the railway’s economic benefits for the region.
At a meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan on 7 October, Kyrgyzstan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Asein Isaev identified the expansion of transport and logistics links as a priority. Discussions focused on connecting the railway with infrastructure in the region’s countries and with routes across the Caspian Sea, which should improve access to international markets.
At a consultative meeting of heads of state on 8 October, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov also spoke about the project’s importance. He said the railway should create additional opportunities for countries in the region to join international transport and production networks. Japarov identified reducing freight costs and transit times as practical goals of cooperation, adding that every country should be able to benefit economically from regional transport projects.
