Tianjin: China and Armenia have officially elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership following a high-level meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
According to Chinese state media, President Xi stressed that both nations should continue to support each other and deepen cooperation across multiple fields. The move reflects Beijing’s growing engagement in the South Caucasus and Armenia’s ongoing efforts to diversify its foreign relations.
The agreement comes after months of groundwork. In June 2025, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted a shared political will to strengthen ties, citing historical friendship, expanding economic opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative, and a 58 percent surge in bilateral trade in the first half of 2025.
Armenia has also cooperated with China on military and technical matters, including the training of Armenian officers in Chinese institutions and support for safeguarding infrastructure linked to the Silk Road Economic Belt. These engagements signal a broadening scope of partnership beyond trade and diplomacy.
The timing of the agreement is particularly significant. Armenia has been redefining its international alignment since scaling back its involvement in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2024 and pursuing closer ties with the European Union and the United States. The new partnership with China provides Yerevan with another pillar of support, balancing its geopolitical options while reducing overreliance on Moscow.
Analysts say the strengthened relationship could bring fresh economic opportunities for Armenia through Chinese investment in infrastructure, technology, and energy projects, while also giving Beijing a firmer foothold in the strategically sensitive South Caucasus. At the same time, the development is expected to draw close scrutiny from Russia, the EU, and the US, as all three powers maintain significant interests in the region.
With this new strategic partnership, China and Armenia have signaled their intent to build long-term cooperation that could reshape alliances and economic patterns in the South Caucasus.