Armenia open to the Belt and Road Initiative

World
Europe

By CGTN's World Insight

Armenia, a nation situated in the Caucasus region, a former Soviet Republic, boasts a history longer than most other European countries.

Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan said the country is seeking opportunities in the changing world at the sidelines of the recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"Not only Russia, but also Armenia as well as Georgia can fit into the framework of Belt and Road Initiative,” said Gabrielyan, adding that they have proposed China to take the route from Iran to Black Sea, which is, according to him, the easiest and shortest way from China to Europe.

Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan (L) and President Serzh Sargsyan at a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting, April 14, 2017. /VCG Photo

Armenia is open to opportunities like the Belt and Road Initiative as well as others, according to Alexander Khachaturyan, the adviser to Armenia's Prime Minister.

"I don't think there is a conflict within all of these ideas," said Khachaturyan. "It's just the way of finding synergy between all of them. And countries like Armenia should be flexible in actually identifying the ways of cooperating under each and every initiative that is made available to us."

The Belt and Road Initiative is a China-led economic platform that spans over 68 countries and encompasses up to 40 percent of global GDP.

Khachaturyan said there is "no one single position on the matter," the important thing is to "sit on the table, and look at different aspects of the negotiation of the deal." He welcomes Chinese companies to do business in Armenia, saying the country will be honest and constructive and will make sure Chinese companies feels comfortable there.