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Academics, diplomats, and experts gathered in Yerevan for the international conference “Strengthening China-Armenia Strategic Partnership: A Dialogue on Governance Experience Exchange.” The event was organized at the initiative of the Confucius Institute of Brusov State University.
Brusov State University Rector Davit Gyurjinyan, in his speech, emphasized the importance of the conference topic, noting China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which calls on all countries to develop together and live in harmony.
“If we succeed in implementing an exchange of governance experience with the relevant Chinese institutions across all fields, we may soon observe a noticeable positive change in the pace of bilateral relations. The year 2025 has been significant for the development of Armenian-Chinese relations, with a number of programs implemented in the fields of culture, science, and education,” Gyurjinyan said.
He added that the Confucius Institute at Brusov State University has held numerous events aimed at promoting the Chinese language in Armenia and training Chinese-language teachers. The university’s staff met with representatives of several Chinese scientific and educational institutions and engaged in experience exchanges, discussing opportunities to further develop cooperation.
“Eight students from our university participated in tourism-related courses at one of Shanghai’s universities. This year, at the initiative of our university, the first issue of the academic journal Yearbook of Armenian Sinology was published, and the second issue is currently being prepared. We will achieve success in this field thanks to ongoing cooperation with Chinese universities. Our university is ready to discuss cooperation initiatives and explore new prospects in this area,” Gyurjinyan noted.
Khachatur Ghazeyan, Rector of the Public Administration Academy of Armenia, stated that strengthening strategic cooperation with China has become one of the important topics on Armenia’s development agenda.
“Armenian-Chinese relations have developed over the years not only at the diplomatic level but also through numerous programs in cultural, educational, and administrative cooperation. This conference will give these relations new energy, depth, and prospects. As a leading country in global governance and economic development, the PRC has rich experience, the study and adaptation of which can greatly contribute to improving Armenia’s governance system, localizing management culture, and strengthening institutional capacities,” said Ghazeyan.
According to him, Armenia also has its own unique characteristics, experience, and capabilities, which may be of interest to partners and contribute to mutually beneficial cooperation.
“This conference is not only a platform for exchanging ideas but also an opportunity to reflect together on how to strengthen the scientific foundation of public service and develop a culture of management thinking within government bodies, educational institutions, and society at large. We live in a period where governance processes are becoming increasingly complex at an unprecedented pace. Globalization, digitalization, migration flows, climate challenges, social inequality, and other factors have made governance systems multi-layered and multifaceted,” Ghazeyan said.
He added that administrative decisions based solely on tradition no longer ensure efficiency. Therefore, public administration is transforming into a scientific, intellectual activity based on knowledge from various fields, as well as expertise in economics, social sciences, political science, law, psychology, linguistics, and other disciplines.
“Today, as the world faces new technological, social, and ecological challenges, scientific thinking helps anticipate the consequences of actions and find a balance between innovation and responsibility. The future of public administration is determined by the ability to move in step with changes in education and scientific systems. In the context of integration processes and global challenges, it is extremely important to consolidate the efforts of academic and administrative institutions from different countries,” noted Ghazeyan.
He said he is convinced that only through the unification of efforts will it be possible to cultivate a new generation of public servants and specialists who possess strategic thinking, high responsibility, and the necessary knowledge.
Gohar Iskandaryan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, said that talks are underway to sign a trilateral cooperation agreement between the Institute of Oriental Studies, the Confucius Institute, and the Armenian-Chinese Friendship School.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting within the framework of the SCO Summit in Tianjin and announced the Strategic Partnership between Armenia and China.