Armenian FM advocates upholding of multilateralism

In a turbulent world, upholding multilateralism and respect for international law is very important, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in a recent interview.

Speaking to China Daily in late June, during his first visit to Beijing since taking office in 2021, Mirzoyan said that Armenia and China hold similar views on many global issues, and countries such as Armenia rely heavily on an international order grounded in law and fairness.

"We want to know the rules. We will respect them. But we also expect everyone else to respect the law," he said, adding that double standards and selective interpretation of international rules by major powers leave smaller countries in a vulnerable position.

Armenia condemned the recent Israeli strikes on Iran as a unilateral act of hostility, echoing China's call for restraint and dialogue in regional disputes, Mirzoyan said.

As a country at the junction of Asia and Europe, Armenia helped China to evacuate Chinese nationals from Iran. Data shows that more than 800 Chinese citizens left Iran through land ports in Armenia following the escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict.

In the face of today's complex international landscape, Mirzoyan emphasized that it is crucial for responsible nations to uphold shared rules and work toward peaceful resolution of conflicts.

"We are very focused on creating a peaceful environment around Armenia, and developing our economy with international partners to contribute to the prosperity of our people," he said.

Mirzoyan said that Armenia's "Crossroads of Peace" initiative, a strategic vision aimed at positioning Armenia as a neutral and efficient transit hub between Asia and Europe, could complement broader international frameworks, including the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and contribute to regional economic integration.

"We believe that establishing peace around Armenia can make it a vital corridor for international transit — from China to Europe and vice versa," he added.

China and Armenia have in recent years steadily deepened cooperation across political, economic and cultural fields.

China is Armenia's third-largest trading partner, and bilateral trade volume reached $2.8 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 34.4 percent, according to data from Armenia.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two countries jointly run one Confucius Institute and three Confucius Classrooms, and they signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visas for ordinary passport holders as early as 2019.

As part of its long-term foreign policy outlook, Armenia has expressed its desire to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a pivotal regional grouping launched in June 2001.

The SCO currently has 10 member states, two observer states and 14 dialogue partners, covering over 40 percent of the global population.

Mirzoyan said that preliminary consultations on Armenia's full membership are underway, and he hopes for China's support during the accession process.

Armenia was granted the status of dialogue partner at the SCO summit in Ufa, Russia, in 2015. Since then, it has actively participated in various SCO events.

China will host the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin this autumn.

zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn