As China’s presence in the South Caucasus grows, marked by Strategic Partnership Agreements with Georgia and Azerbaijan, Armenia remains the only country in the region not to have entered into a similar arrangement with Beijing. Nonetheless, recent developments suggest that progress has been made in economic and political relations between the Republic of Armenia (RA) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with the educational sector emerging as an important area of cooperation.
Since gaining its independence in 1991, Armenia has entered into several agreements in the fields of science and education with the PRC. These include:
- The Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education, Sports, Health, and Tourism ( 1992).
- The Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1992).
- The Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Education (2000).
- The Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Documents on Education and Scientific Degrees (2015).
In addition, several supplementary documents have been signed to strengthen collaboration between specific agencies in the two countries. In 2012, for instance, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Armenia’s State Committee of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science and China’s Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics. In 2022, an MOU titled “On Cooperation in the Field of Satellite Imagery Application” was signed by Armenia’s Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports and its the National Academy of Sciences and China’s Center for Application of Satellite Remote Sensing of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Cooperation with Chinese universities
In line with the governmental approach, Armenian universities have actively formed associations with Chinese higher education institutions and organizations. Our research found 38 links between Armenian and Chinese entities. Notably, at least seven Armenian educational institutions have formed formal or informal partnerships with Chinese entities. These Sino-Armenian educational partnerships involve 20 Chinese universities, two Chinese state institutions, three Chinese research institutions, three other types of Chinese entities, one Confucius Institute, and one Chinese corporation. Key areas of cooperation include joint conferences, student and academic staff exchanges, training programs, and scientific research projects.
Most of the Chinese universities with which Armenian institutions have established formal partnerships are classified as potential security risks due to concerns caused by their participation in defense research and collaboration with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). However, Armenian universities have not published any documents addressing the challenges associated with such foreign institutions. Consequently, there is a general lack of robust risk assessment mechanisms before formalizing partnerships with Chinese universities.
More than 66% of these potentially risky associations are with Yerevan State University. Other Armenian institutions that also have connections with Chinese universities, as indicated by the ASPI Tracker, include the Armenian State University of Economics, the Armenian State Pedagogical University, and the National University of Architecture and Construction. Around 66% of all connections are with medium-risk Chinese institutions, such as Shanghai University, Nanchang University, and Lanzhou University, and 16% are with high-risk institutions, like Zhejiang International Studies University.
Shanghai University (SHU) is referred to as a medium-risk organization by ASPI primarily due to its growing involvement in defense-related research. The university holds secret-level security credentials, enabling its researchers to participate in classified defense technology projects. In 2016, the Armenian State University of Economics entered into a preliminary agreement with SHU to establish formal bilateral relations. Additionally, SHU is a partner organization of the Center of Chinese Language and Chinese Culture at Armenia’s Yerevan State University.
Lanzhou University (LZU) is designated as a medium-risk organization due to its involvement in defense research, as indicated by its expenditure of over RMB 50 million (€633,000) on defense-related projects. LZU postgraduate students receive scholarships from various defense companies, including those linked to China’s nuclear weapons program. Despite these associations, LZU is listed as an official partner of Yerevan State University, according to the latter’s official website.
Nanchang University (NCU) is also classified as a medium-risk institution. In 2018, the US government added NCU to its Unverified List, which includes entities over which end-user checks cannot be satisfactorily conducted to ensure compliance with export license regulations. Despite its questionable profile, NCU maintains cooperative ties with Armenia’s National University of Architecture and Construction. In 2022, NCU announced a winter school program on Chinese language and culture for students of the Armenian university.
Unfortunately, most formal agreements established with Chinese institutions have not been publicly disclosed. However, unlike Georgia and Azerbaijan, where no signed agreements have been published, open sources reveal three formal agreements between Armenian and Chinese institutions. The disclosed documents are primarily established by or between state institutions and include:
- A Memorandum of Cooperation between Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the Chinese Culture Translation and Studies Support Network (2019).
- An Agreement on Cooperation between the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport and China’s Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (2021).
- An MOU between Armenia’s Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and its National Academy of Sciences and China’s Land Satellite Remote Sensing Application Centre of the Ministry of Natural Resources (2022).
Confucius Institutes in Armenia: An instrument of soft power
The PRC’s primary soft power instrument, the Confucius Institute, has a single presence in Armenia, which has been located at the Yerevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences since its establishment in 2009. The institute actively organizes and supports events that foster interest in Chinese language and culture. According to publicly available sources, the activities of the Confucius Institute are primarily concerned with cultural and linguistic topics. Thus, unlike the Confucius Institutes of other South Caucasian countries, such as Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Armenia-based institute does not explicitly promote issues such as the political ideology of the Chinese Communist Party or organize events related to the PLA.
With support from the Chinese government, this institute cooperates closely with its partner institution, the Dalian University of Foreign Languages (DLUFL) in the PRC. DLUFL plays a pivotal role as an academic counterpart for several Armenian educational institutions. Notably, a Confucius Classroom has been inaugurated at Chekhov School in Yerevan, while another was established at the Russian-Armenian University through joint initiatives with DLUFL.
With the support of the above-mentioned Confucius Institute, the Center of Chinese Language and Culture was established at Yerevan State University in 2015. The center cooperates with institutions such as the Dalian University of Foreign Languages, Shanghai University, Nanjing Pedagogical University, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Its primary functions include promoting the teaching of the Chinese language, fostering interest in Chinese cultural values, and organizing thematic courses, film screenings, exhibitions, and olympiads related to the Chinese language, culture, religion, and history. For example, in 2021, the center co-organized an online conference titled “China and Armenia: Governance and High-Quality Cooperation within the Framework of the One Belt, One Road Initiative.”
Additionally, the Confucius Institute works closely with other Armenian institutions to disseminate the Chinese language and culture. For instance, in 2024, it partnered with Armenia’s Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences to organize a conference titled “Cultural Dialogue: Armenia-China.”
Interestingly, the promotion of the Chinese language in Armenia extends beyond the activities of the Confucius Institute and its classrooms, encompassing secondary schools as well. During the aforementioned conference in 2024, the Chinese ambassador to Armenia, Fan Yong, stated, “Currently, more than 5,000 students are studying Chinese in Armenia. This process is not only taking place in universities but also in schools.”
The incorporation of a Chinese educational component into Armenian secondary education exemplifies the significant impact of Chinese influence on Armenian academia. In 2018, the Chinese-Armenian Friendship School was established in Armenia. The Chinese government allocated more than US$12 million for the construction and equipment of the school, which offers intensive language courses taught by both Chinese and Armenian educators. As of 2024, the school had an enrollment of 685 students. The Confucius Institute supports its educational program and provides pathways for students to continue their education in China. To date, around 20 students from the school have pursued studies in the PRC, with education costs covered by the program, requiring students to pay only for transportation expenses.
Engagement with Chinese think tanks and corporations
Other actors involved in academic cooperation with China include think tanks, such as the China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research, a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization. Established in 2016, it focuses on research related to international relations, security, and economic dynamics involving China and the Eurasian continent. It has formalized its collaborations through MOUs with prominent Chinese universities, including the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University and the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China.
Armenian academia engages in cooperative relations not only with Chinese universities and state institutions but also with private companies, such as Huawei and NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited. In 2021, Huawei launched its “Seeds for the Future” in partnership with Armenia’s Yerevan State University, Yerevan National Polytechnic University, and the American University. This program selected 20 outstanding students. The initiative aimed to allow participants to explore advanced technologies, including 5G, cloud computing, and AI. In 2020, NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited launched an annual summer internship program for students at Armenia’s National University of Architecture and Construction that focused on fields such as Industrial Design, User Experience Design, Product Design, and Game Design.
Recommendations for addressing potential challenges
Considering China’s growing interest in the South Caucasus region, it is widely anticipated that the PRC’s engagement with regional countries, including Armenia, will expand significantly in the coming years. This development is expected to open up numerous opportunities for Armenian universities and academic institutions to strengthen ties with their counterparts in the PRC. Amid the evolving scenario of increasing Chinese presence in Armenia and its educational sector, the following recommendations may prove beneficial:
- Armenian institutions should exercise due diligence when collaborating with Chinese partners, carefully evaluating potential risks and benefits.
- Armenian state institutions should provide proactive and effective guidance to help Armenian academic entities navigate potential challenges in their partnerships with China.
- Collaborations should be aligned with Armenia’s national interests to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.
Explore more data on Armenia-China academic engagements here.
