LOOKING EAST: ARMENIAN LEADER ON LANDMARK VISIT TO CHINA

ANALYSIS | 27.03.15 | 10:41

By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent

Many experts describe the current state visit of Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan to China as “historical” and a “breakthrough” in the
relations between the two countries.

While there is no definitive information on specific arrangements,
it is already known that China has agreed to support Armenia in the
current difficult period.

Armenia is a member of pro-Russian economic and military alliances
that at this moment appear unable or unwilling to support its economy
and security.

Moreover, membership in these units as well as the existing
Armenian-Russian bilateral agreements also appear to prevent
Yerevan’s from pursuing integration with the West, in particular,
in the security sphere.

China has become an alternative direction for Armenia as the
Russia-West standoff has aggravated. Despite the fact that China in
many cases supports the position of Moscow, Beijing is also engaged
in quite active dialogue with Washington and many call China a
“third pole”.

According to official information, China has agreed to provide a
preferential interstate credit to Armenia, and it is possible that
this allocation will be in Chinese yuans. However, nothing has yet
been reported on the possible volume of the credit, but private
reactions of Armenian officials are evidence that Armenia will get
significant investments.

Yerevan, in fact, has officially declared about its joining the Chinese
Silk Road Project. It is within this project that China will allocate
money for the construction of a North-South highway that will connect
Georgia and Iran through Armenia.

The matter also concerns the intention to invest in the construction
of an Iran-Armenia railway, as well as in the construction of a new
nuclear power plant in Armenia.

This are the largest Armenian projects that Russia had promised it
would take part in, but in fact torpedoed them. Despite the fact
that there had also been offers from France and the United States
to invest in the construction of a new nuclear reactor in Armenia,
Yerevan, under apparent Russian pressure, had to refuse to cooperate
with the West in the nuclear sphere. But it is unlikely that Russia
will obstruct Armenian-Chinese agreements in this field – relations
with Beijing are extremely dear to Moscow at present.

The joint Armenian-Chinese declaration signed by President Sargsyan
and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jiping earlier this week contains a
line that says “… to continue cooperation in the military sphere,”
including military assistance. China has already provided some types
of weapons to Armenia before, and this, military experts say, has
helped restore Armenia’s military balance with Azerbaijan, which is
actively buying weapons from Russia.

It is not clear yet whether there will be new arms supplies from China,
but the legal framework for that, as well as for China’s participation
in many infrastructure projects in Armenia has already been created.

Experts point out another major agreement – on cooperation in the
tourism sector. The consent of the Chinese leadership to include
Armenia in the list of current tours for Chinese travelers is a major
incentive for the development of tourism in Armenia.