Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump had a private meeting on Friday in Beijing, the Chinese Xinhua news agency reported.

The meeting came a day after Xi held talks with Trump.

Xi lauded the “historic and landmark” visit of the American president.

Xi said the two sides had set the new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.

“We have reached important common understandings on maintaining stable economic and trade ties, expanding practical cooperation in various fields, and properly addressing each other’s concerns,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues, according to Xi.

The visit is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, deepening mutual trust and improving the well-being of the two peoples, Xi said.

This once again demonstrates that it is a shared aspiration of both peoples and the expectation of people across the world for China and the United States to find a right path to get along with each other and to achieve peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, Xi added.

“While President Trump hopes to make America great again, I am dedicated to leading the Chinese people toward national rejuvenation,” Xi said, stressing that the two countries can advance their respective development and revitalization by strengthening cooperation.

China and the United States should implement the important common understandings that have been reached, cherish the hard-won positive momentum, keep to the right direction, steer clear of disruptions, and promote the steady development of bilateral relations, Xi said.

British foreign minister Yvette Cooper is expected to visit China in early June, Reuters reported, citing three sources.

The June 2-3 trip will take Cooper to Beijing for talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and then to the southern tech hub of Shenzhen for meetings with businesses, according to the report.

Briefings are being prepared on the basis that even if there is a leadership contest to oust British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, that would take weeks or months and Cooper would likely still travel regardless, two British officials said.

British PM Keir Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced a “reset” in ties during a January visit to China, following the British government’s approval of plans for Beijing to build its largest embassy in Europe in London, and paving the way for the lifting of Chinese sanctions on six serving lawmakers.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he raised the possibility of a nuclear deal involving the United States, Russia, and China during talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Trump told reporters he wants the three countries to sign a pact that would cap the number of nuclear warheads in each nation’s arsenal, according to The Associated Press.

Beijing’s arsenal, according to Pentagon estimates, exceeds 600 operational nuclear warheads and remains far from parity with the United States and Russia, which are each estimated to possess more than 5,000 nuclear warheads.

But Trump suggested Xi was receptive to the idea when he raised it during their private talks.

“I got a very positive response,” Trump said. “This is the beginning.”

The last nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, known as New START, expired in February, removing caps on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than half a century.

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk during the Kazan International Economic Forum, Azerbaijan’s APA agency reported.

According to the report, the sides discussed economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, the results of the 24th session of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation held in Zangilan on April 16, as well as a number of bilateral issues of mutual interest.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call with US President Donald Trump during which the two leaders discussed the conflict surrounding Iran and efforts toward a settlement in Ukraine.

“I had a good phone call with Donald Trump on his way back from China. We agree: Iran must come to the negotiating table now. It must open the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons,” Merz wrote on his X account.

The German chancellor also said the two leaders discussed the peaceful resolution of the situation in Ukraine and coordinated their positions ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

“The United States and Germany are strong partners in a strong NATO,” Merz added.

Discussions on activating YouTube Kids in Armenia are currently underway as authorities, educators, and international partners increase efforts to improve digital literacy and strengthen children’s online safety. 

Ensuring minors’ safety on the internet has become a shared responsibility not only for families, but also for educational institutions, state bodies, and society as a whole.

Georgi Khachatryan, Head of the Professional Methodological Support Department of the Community Police Main Directorate under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, told Armenpress in an interview that minors in Armenia most often fall victim online to crimes targeting sexual inviolability.

Risks facing children online include cyberbullying, personal data leaks, harmful content, and online scams.

“Given the rapid development of information technologies in recent years, we saw an upward trend in such crimes between 2022 and 2024, but in 2025 we have recorded a decline. In 2024, there were nine registered cases that led to criminal proceedings, while in 2025 there were five cases,” he said.

Khachatryan noted that minors often do not even realize they are being subjected to some form of abuse or exploitation online.

As part of efforts to combat online crime, the main focus of outreach work with minors and their legal guardians during the 2025–2026 academic year has been the topic of creating a “Safe Online Environment,” which he described as highly relevant today.

He added that police are also working with parents to raise awareness of online risks facing children. The cybercrime unit operates a hotline for reporting concerns and is active on social media platforms, particularly Telegram, where it regularly shares online safety information.

In the field of children’s online protection, at the initiative of Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the Armenian office of UNICEF has developed a draft roadmap on the protection of children’s rights in the online environment.

The ministry is in contact with representatives of Meta, TikTok, and Roblox to expand awareness in Armenia about safety tools designed for minors. At the same time, discussions are underway with YouTube regarding the activation of YouTube Kids in the country, the ministry told Armenpress.

On December 15, 2025, Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, and the “Izmirlian” charitable foundation signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding, emphasizing joint efforts by state, educational, and civil institutions to create a safe digital environment, as well as the development of legislative solutions and awareness programs.

In addition, a funding agreement was signed between UNICEF and the “Izmirlian” foundation, under which work is now underway to form an expert group. The group will conduct research and present concrete proposals on legal and practical mechanisms for ensuring children’s protection in the online environment in Armenia.

“Social networks and gaming platforms in Armenia are the main environments for the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. According to UNICEF data, around 9,000 children in Armenia are affected by such abuse annually, with 71% of cases occurring exclusively online. Children are particularly vulnerable to AI-generated content and chatbots, as their cognitive abilities are still developing,” the ministry stated.

According to Tamara Sargsyan, Head of the General Education Department at Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, issues related not only to children’s online safety but also to digital literacy in today’s digital world are a priority for the ministry.

She said the most important step is that, starting from the second grade, students now study a new subject under updated standards called “Digital Literacy and Computer Science.” Previously, “Informatics” was taught only from the seventh grade, mainly focusing on learning computer programs and basic computer use, but now students begin developing broader skills at an earlier age.

The Head of the General Education Department said there is also an interagency media literacy strategy, under which schools run clubs, implement various programs, and organize competitions that help students learn different mechanisms.

She noted that some families do not properly monitor what content children consume or how they use technology, stressing the importance of children learning to understand devices and identify risks. She also highlighted the importance of regular teacher training.

Sargsyan added that work is underway to provide access to artificial intelligence accounts in schools, and once introduced, they will be accompanied by training so that schools are prepared both to use AI and to recognize content created with it.

Psychologist Ani Apitonyan notes that any form of online violence has a significant impact on the mental health of minors. She says children often become victims of cyberbullying but are afraid to speak up about it.

She emphasizes the importance of open and warm parent–child relationships, explaining that children often stay silent out of fear of punishment or being blamed. Apitonyan also highlights that excessive parental control can backfire, causing children to become more secretive.

She advises parents to take an active interest in their children’s online activities, including games and social media, and to listen without criticism. She adds that internet addiction can lead to aggressive or withdrawn behavior in children.

“The child may become emotional or withdrawn, and at the same time may also show aggression or experience feelings of guilt where there is no need for it. This indicates that something has changed in the child’s life, and the parent should simply ask the child to talk about it and say that they will understand them. In that case, the child will trust the parent,” added Apitonyan.

Armenian authorities announced on Friday morning that police had shut down an “Asian criminal syndicate” engaged in gambling scams.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs released a video showing armed special operatives raiding what appears to be a compound used by the syndicate as an office and detaining multiple suspects.

In a statement, the ministry said officers had “shut down the activities of an Asian criminal syndicate specialized in online fake casinos.”

On 12 May, Yutaka Aoki, Ambassador of Japan to Armenia, and Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, visited Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions to see on the ground the results of projects implemented with funding from the Government of Japan, UNDP Armenia said in a press release.

The first visit, within the framework of the UNDP “Project for Supporting Basic Infrastructure and Social Integration for Displaced Persons from Nagorno-Karabakh and Host Communities” was Chambarak community, Gegharkunik region, where a reservoir with a useful capacity of 11,000 m³ was constructed. Janik Bazeyan, Deputy Governor of Gegharkunik region, Nvard Vardanyan, Deputy Chairperson of MTAI Water Committee, Ashot Giloyan, Adviser, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, and Robert Ohanyan, First Deputy Head of Chambarak community, also took part in the visit.  

It is expected that the reservoir will restore irrigation across up to 200 hectares of land and benefit around 200 households. The community also invested in a new 4.4 km irrigation distribution system, further boosting climate‑resilient agriculture, according to the UNDP.

The officials also learned about hybrid solar energy systems installed in key public facilities in host communities to enhance energy resilience. The 5 kW systems are stationary, while the 2 kW systems are mobile and easy to deploy. Designed to operate both grid-connected and in off-grid modes, these systems ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential services (such as lighting and communications) during power outages. In total, nine systems have been installed in Gegharkunik region (four 2 kW and five 5 kW systems), eight of which serve the Chambarak community: the municipal building (5 kW), Kindergarten No. 3 (5 kW), the medical center (5 kW), the local rescue service unit (5 kW and 2 kW), as well as the summer pastures of Chambarak community (three 2 kW units).

Afterwards, Ambassador Aoki and Natia Natsvlishvili visited Charentsavan community of Kotayk region. Through the Restorative Circles methodology, refugees and host communities across ten communities were engaged in structured conversations to identify priorities and co-design solutions. More than 1,100 participants, nearly half refugees, highlighted the need for safe, inclusive spaces for interaction, creativity, and community life. These ideas are already a reality in five communities, benefiting around 126,000 people, including 984 vulnerable households. 

In Charentsavan community, the high-level guests, accompanied by Hakob Shahgaldyan, Head of Charentsavan community, opened the public space and playground which will strengthen social cohesion and integration processes by bringing people together, contributing to informal social interaction and community ties.

“We are deeply grateful to the Government of Japan for its financial support, which continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of refugees and host communities across Armenia. These results are a powerful example of what effective partnerships can achieve—combining immediate support with long-term, climate‑resilient and socially inclusive solutions. We also highly appreciate the strong cooperation with regional and local authorities, whose leadership and commitment are essential to turning these investments into real improvements on the ground. UNDP remains firmly committed to supporting refugees and host communities by strengthening infrastructure, enhancing energy resilience, and fostering social cohesion,” said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday held a meeting with the Governor of Armavir, Vahram Khachatryan, amid a campaign event of the Civil Contract party across the province.

Governor Khachatryan, during the live broadcast meeting, briefed Pashinyan on the development projects in the province from 2018 to 2026.

Pashinyan and other senior party members then held a meeting with locals in the village of Parakar.

During a subsequent speech, PM Pashinyan said that investment projects worth over 200 million dollars have been carried out in Armavir Province during his administration’s tenure spanning from 2018 until May 1, 2026.

“We have made investments of more than $200 million in Armavir Province through various programs from 2018 until May 1, 2026, and we can clearly and unequivocally see this phenomenon in all regions and all settlements, which gives us grounds to say that the Republic of Armenia is flourishing today in the literal sense of the word,” Pashinyan said.

According to him, these developments have become possible thanks to the work of working citizens and the activities of the government.

“This flourishing is taking place through the work of citizens who work and create results in the Republic of Armenia, as well as through the coordination of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the political majority, and the parliamentary majority,” he noted.

He also referred to programs being implemented in the agriculture sector, emphasizing the development of intensive orchards.

“From 2018 to today, more than 6,000 hectares of intensive orchards have been established in Armavir Province,” Pashinyan said.

He reiterated that water management will be one of the government’s main priorities in the coming years.

“We will definitely follow this path, starting with drip irrigation and continuing with the construction of reservoirs and the introduction of modern water management technologies. Water issues, as we have already said, will be one of our five priorities over the next five years,” he noted.