Armenian-Chinese cooperation beneficial - Mariam Manukyan

The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as an economic project was China’s conception, Mariam Manukyan, Chairperson of the Council for Promotion of International Business Ties, told Tert.am as she spoke of expected intensification of China’s integration into the EEU.

“Surely, the project approved of by China would have been accepted if Russia had proposed it,” Ms Manukyan said.

At a recent Eastern Economic Forum Commission Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the first round of negotiations over a trade and economic cooperation agreement between the EEU and China in Moscow, Russia, this October. The agreement is supposed to lay the foundations for comprehensive Eurasian cooperation in the 5+1 format.

“China’s authorities have long since been speaking of China’s integration with the EEU. The originally planned China’s membership in the EEU. Since early last year, they carried out tremendous work, including international forums, exhibitions. China has also studied the effectiveness of its integration into this economic structure,” Ms Manukyan said.

On the other hand, numerous Chinese economists object to China’s integration into the EEU.

“They are for cooperating with the EEU, without officially joining it. They are for implementation of serious economic projects,” she said.

In this context, she spoke of Chinese-Armenian cooperation. Since last year, the two countries’ government and private organizations have been carrying out serious work.

“China is a great economy and can be of great benefit to us and vice versa. The Silk Road, education, high-tech and medical equipment projects, connect China and Armenia,” Ms Manukyan said.

Armenia should be more active and take right steps.

“We should consider the fact that china cooperates by means of its states and can make serious investments in plant construction or export of certain products. They also made serious proposals at a government level, by means of government investments in plant construction, with budget revenues ensured. I think it is a serious topic to be discussed to give a final answer,” Ms Manukyan said.

Manukyan also highlighted Armenia’s advantages as a potential partner for China. “They shouldn’t, definitely, have considered Armenia an economic and strategic branch, considering the closed borders. We are not able to supply the products in the quantity they want. But Armenia does have advantages for China which develops cooperation with not only the EEU countries but also with Iran. The cooperation with the latter would be possible in the frameworks of the cooperation with Armenia. So considering that moment, we are required to make very serious considerations. We must start serious work as life has shown that whenever we miss a chance we find ourselves back at the bottom of the ladder.”

Speaking of the efforts undertaken so far, Manukyan said, “We are in a stage of concluding agreements. Whether private, commercial or [inter-]governmental, they will be brought to life in 2017. But the project-based programs which testify to developing ties between the two countries, have already been launched. Chinese journalists are visiting Armenia in the near future. The projects are diverse as it is. Mutual visits are planned for establishing ties and exchanging information between the two countries [ranging from tourism to economy].”