Defense ties between Armenia and China continue to deepen, says Army Chief

Cooperation between Armenia and China, including between their defense ministries, is successfully developing across various sectors, particularly in recent years, according to Lieutenant General Edward Asryan, First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

Speaking at the event marking the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, held at the Chinese Embassy in Armenia, Asryan emphasized the growing ties between the two nations.

“The modern Chinese army is already 98 years old. For centuries, the Chinese warrior has embodied courage and dedication. His unwavering devotion to the homeland and military professionalism have forged a creative force that helped the Chinese people overcome the most difficult challenges,” he said.

He noted that China is currently one of Armenia’s key international partners, and the further development of bilateral cooperation is among the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy.

“Armenia-China relations are based on mutual respect, a high level of political dialogue, and mutual understanding. Armenia is actively participating in the Belt and Road initiative proposed by the President of the People’s Republic of China, which aligns with Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace project,” Asryan added.

“We highly value the main goal of China's foreign policy – to safeguard global peace,” he stated.

According to Asryan, the Armenian government places strong emphasis on developing cooperation with China in the defense sector.

In this context, he highlighted that in 2023 and 2024, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan took part in the 10th and 11th Xiangshan International Security Forums held in Beijing, where he held productive meetings that helped further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation.

Asryan added that annual bilateral cooperation programs include delegation exchanges and expert-level working meetings across key areas of mutual interest.

In the field of military science, close ties have been established between the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the Vazgen Sargsyan Military University of the Armenian Ministry of Defense, and the National Defense Research University.

According to the Chief of the General Staff, Armenia-China relations are currently at a high level, and further development is planned in several key areas.