Last updated: June 11, 2026
China is the world’s second-largest economy with a population of approximately 1.4 billion people and the largest manufacturing base globally. The People’s Republic of China (PRC), governed as a one-party socialist state under the Chinese Communist Party, has emerged as a superpower through rapid economic growth, technological advancement, and strategic infrastructure development. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013, represents a comprehensive strategy to expand economic ties and geopolitical influence across Asia, Africa, Europe, and increasingly the South Caucasus through infrastructure investment, trade partnerships, and financial mechanisms like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
China’s rise as a global power shapes the geopolitical environment in which Armenia operates, particularly through its strategic partnership with Russia and its competition with the United States for influence across Eurasia. Beijing has deepened ties with Moscow in response to Western sanctions and isolation, creating a de facto alignment that affects regional dynamics from Ukraine to the South Caucasus. China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its broader vision of a multipolar world order challenge the U.S.-led international system, creating openings and constraints for smaller states navigating between competing great powers.
China’s Economic Strategy in the South Caucasus
China views the South Caucasus as a critical bridge connecting Central Asia to Europe and bypassing trans-Siberian routes. The Belt and Road Initiative focuses on developing reliable trans-Caspian trade routes, securing energy resources, capturing electric vehicle markets, and establishing logistical footholds in Black Sea ports. In Georgia, Chinese consortia are reviving the stalled Anaklia Deep-Sea Port project to create a major container hub, leveraging Georgia’s tariff-free trade agreement with China. In Azerbaijan, bilateral trade reached approximately $3.74 billion, with Chinese state-owned enterprises investing heavily in petrochemicals, metallurgy, and renewable energy. Azerbaijan has also emerged as a massive market for Chinese EV exports, importing nearly 15,500 hybrid and electric vehicles in a recent year. China has aligned the BRI with Azerbaijan’s domestic “Silk Road Revival” to maximize trans-Caspian multimodal freight integration.
China-Armenia Relations
China’s economic engagement with Armenia remains underdeveloped compared to its partnerships with Azerbaijan and Georgia. Beijing is exploring highway development via the North-South Transport Corridor to better link Armenia to regional trade networks. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Silk Road Fund serve as primary mechanisms for Chinese financing of regional road, rail, and telecommunication upgrades, though Armenian participation lags behind other Caucasus states. China’s technological and innovation cooperation includes digitalization and “Smart Science City” development initiatives, but Armenia has not been prioritized as a hub for these programs. The limited bilateral economic engagement reflects both Armenia’s smaller market size and its historical alignment with Russia, which constrains Chinese investment even as Beijing seeks to expand its economic footprint across the region.
For Armenia, China’s trajectory matters less as a direct economic partner than as a force reshaping the larger contest between Russia and the West—and increasingly, between itself and the West—within which Armenia’s own survival depends.
The Iran War beginning in early 2026 brought China into sharper focus as a factor in Armenian security. Dr. Anatol Lieven and Sergei Melkonian both examined how the war affects energy supplies, de-dollarization, and alternative financial architectures that bypass American control, with China positioned as a potential beneficiary of reduced U.S. dominance in global markets. Prof. Warwick Powell discussed in depth how the war on Iran relates to U.S. energy efficiency, the limits of American airpower, and the rise of alternative payment systems and information networks in which China plays a central role. These conversations illustrated that Armenia’s position in a multipolar order depends partly on whether China and Russia can sustain their partnership, and whether the U.S. can maintain its leverage over regional states despite mounting challenges to its global position.
TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), the U.S.-backed transit corridor through Armenian Syunik province, is explicitly framed by Washington as a tool to limit Chinese and Russian influence in Central Asia and the Middle East. Multiple episodes have noted that the corridor serves American strategic interests in accessing critical minerals and building logistics networks independent of both Iran and Russia, with secondary implications for containing Chinese Belt and Road expansion in the region. China’s own interests in Eurasian connectivity remain underdeveloped in Armenia-specific analysis, but the competing visions of regional integration between TRIPP and Russian-Chinese alternatives represent a structural choice Armenia cannot avoid indefinitely. Whether Armenia emerges from its current isolation as a node in a U.S., Russian, Chinese, or genuinely multipolar network will depend on outcomes beyond Armenian control, making Armenia’s role in the broader U.S.-China-Russia competition far more consequential than any direct Sino-Armenian relationship.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with China.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
Topics:
Guests:
Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 28, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210328.html Episode 55 | Recorded: March 28, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 28, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210328.html Episode 55 | Recorded: March 28, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 14, 2021
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210314.html Episode 53 | Recorded on March 14, 2021
Armenia’s Earthquake Preparedness - 02/21/2021
Topics:
Guest:
Host:
Website:
Read MoreArmenia’s Earthquake Preparedness - 02/21/2021
Topics:
Guest:
Host:
Website:
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests:
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests:
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 48 - February 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
Guests
Your Hosts:
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210207.html Recorded: February 7, 2021
Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021
Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021
Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021
As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.
In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.
Today weâre joined by:
Maria Karapetyan, who is a member
Read MoreConversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021
As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.
In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.
Today weâre joined by:
Maria Karapetyan, who is a member
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Dec 13, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Dec 13, 2020
The Role of The Humanities and Social Studies in Armenian Life - 12/13/2020
Conversations on Groong
Academia and academic work, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences, has always been instrumentalized by various ideologies and/or political regimes. Moreover, various disciplines within each of those fields such as anthropology, art history, literature, etc., have a long tradition of being the middle children of academia and are rarely considered to have a role in shaping minds and trends in society. In Armenia the roles of
Read MoreThe Role of The Humanities and Social Studies in Armenian Life - 12/13/2020
Conversations on Groong
Academia and academic work, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences, has always been instrumentalized by various ideologies and/or political regimes. Moreover, various disciplines within each of those fields such as anthropology, art history, literature, etc., have a long tradition of being the middle children of academia and are rarely considered to have a role in shaping minds and trends in society. In Armenia the roles of
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020
Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Dec 6, 2020
Episode 30 | Recorded: Dec 6, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Nov 29, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Nov 29, 2020
Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020
Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Nov 7, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 26 - Nov 8, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Recorded: Nov 7, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020
Topics Covered:
Your Hosts:
Resident Panelists:
Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)
Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020
It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.
In todayâs conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.
Questions explored:
Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020
It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.
In todayâs conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.
Questions explored:
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website:
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website:
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/06/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200906.html Episode 13 | Recorded on September 6, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/06/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200906.html Episode 13 | Recorded on September 6, 2020
Judicial Reforms, Data Protection and Privacy - 09/05/2020
Conversations on Groong
Armenia has European grade laws in the areas of finance, business, data protection and privacy. What is preventing Armenia from achieving its full potential in foreign direct investment (FDI)? Why do many Armenian startups incorporate in foreign countries, and use Armenia as their offshore labor resource?
Our Guest is David Sandukhchyan is a lawyer with 20 years of experience in telecommunications, cyber law, media and personal data protection. He started his legal career as an Internet freedom advocate and
Read MoreJudicial Reforms, Data Protection and Privacy - 09/05/2020
Conversations on Groong
Armenia has European grade laws in the areas of finance, business, data protection and privacy. What is preventing Armenia from achieving its full potential in foreign direct investment (FDI)? Why do many Armenian startups incorporate in foreign countries, and use Armenia as their offshore labor resource?
Our Guest is David Sandukhchyan is a lawyer with 20 years of experience in telecommunications, cyber law, media and personal data protection. He started his legal career as an Internet freedom advocate and
Read MoreEpisode 10 | Recorded: August 2020
Episode 10 | Recorded: August 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020
This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.
Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past weekâs headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyanâs
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020
This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.
Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past weekâs headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyanâs
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/09/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200809.html Episode 6 | Recorded on August 9, 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/09/2020
Topics:
Guests
Hosts
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200809.html Episode 6 | Recorded on August 9, 2020
Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020
Episode 5 | Recorded ob August 2, 2020
Episode 1 | Recorded on July 12, 2020
Episode 1 | Recorded on July 12, 2020