ARMENIAN-CHINESE TRADE-ECONOMIC RELATIONS INVOLVE NEW SPHERES
By Askanaz Abrahamian
AZG Armenian Daily
17/06/2008
Armenia-China
Armenian-Chinese trade-economic relations have a history of
centuries. According to some records, in the 2nd century Armenian
merchants exported silk and sold it not only in Armenia but also in
the region.
Later on, during Mongol invasion thousands of Armenians were taken
prisoners. They were taken to China where natives highly qualifying
the Armenian’s diligence and application to work provided them with
good living and working conditions. In the 14th century an Armenian
church was built in Canton gathering around all the Armenians living
thereabout.
The Armenian teacher of the Chinese language Hovhannes Ghazarian
that is well-known in the world sinology as John Lazarus is the first
one that translated the Bible and many classics of world literature
into Chinese.
Even today Armenians that live in this wonderful country are doctors,
handicraftsmen, merchants and state employees in great demand.
Today China is one of the most powerful countries of the world
and is the first one with its growth indexes. The GDP of China was
10,21 trillion US dollars in 2007. The successes were achieved when
the president of the country Den Syaopin in the 70s of last century
declared of reforming the country’s economy into market course and
took a course of overcoming poverty under a slogan "Poverty is not
socialism".
From1979 to 1997 the GDP of the country rose by 9,8 percent on
average. And already in 1997 China was the 7th in the world with its
potential, and the first with its production of bread, cotton, meat,
coal, computer and programming techniques and TV sets.
A little after proclamation of the third Republic of Armenia
diplomatic relations were established between Armenia and China,
and the trade-economic relations run up that became deeper day by
day involving new spheres.
It’s a pity that the volume and assortment of the goods exported
from Armenia is very little. For example, if in 2006, about 112 mln
US dollars and in 2007, 197 mln US dollars of goods were exported
from China to Armenia, then in the same years Armenia exported
correspondingly 463 thousand and 7,1 mln US dollars of goods.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia does
everything to export to China as many and various goods as possible
and to multiply the Chinese investments in the Armenian economy.
The delegation of Armenian businessmen led by the Chairman of RA
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MP Martin Sargsian left for China
recently to deepen Armenian-Chinese trade-economic relations and to
find new economic partners. The same days, businessmen of Chinese
biggest state led by executives of the state’s trade circulation
visited Armenia.
During their meeting in RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry Executive
Director of the Chamber Araik Vardanian first presented his condolences
to the Chinese friends connected with the devastating earthquake
in Sichuan state. He expressed hope that Armenian-Chinese friendly
and business relations would improve involving more investors and
businessmen.
The Executive Director of RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry mentioned
that today Armenia offers exclusive conditions and the authorities
of the country do everything to spur foreign investments in Armenia
and to involve more investors.