ArmInfo.The presence of representative offices of Chinese companies in Armenia indicates the existence of a certain interest of the Chinese business in the Armenian economy. The Minister of Economic Development and Investments Tigran Khachatryan stated this on May 3 at a press conference, commenting on the absence of an Armenian delegation in the work of the forum "One Belt - One Way", which was held from April 25 to April 27, 2019 in Beijing. It was attended by 37 leaders of states and governments.
According to the minister, the Armenian government conducts daily discussions with Chinese investors. In this context, according to Tigran Khachatryan, the fact that Armenia was not represented at the forum does not mean that Armenia is left behind international integration. As the head of the department noted, the fact that a number of Chinese companies are interested in implementing investment programs in Armenia indicates that these discussions will come to a successful conclusion sooner or later and Armenia will occupy its niche in this global initiative.
Note that the concept of "One Belt, One Way" is China's international initiative to improve existing and create new trade and transport corridors connecting more than 60 countries of Central Asia, Europe and Africa, which is intended to promote the development of trade-economic relations between them and China . The idea of forming the "Silk Road Economic Belt" was put forward by PRC leader Xi Jinping and was first voiced during his speech in the capital of Kazakhstan in September 2013.
Among the leaders of the 37 leaders, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev participated in the work of the second forum "One Belt - One Way". Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also came to Beijing to participate in the forum. He presided over all the events of the forum with the participation of Xi Jinping leaders.
According to Armenian statistics, the trade turnover between Armenia and China in 2018 amounted to $ 771.1 million with an annual growth of 29.3%, of which 107.2 million fell to exports with an annual decline of 9.5%, and 663.9 to imports. million with an annual growth of 39%.