The launch of direct flights between Yerevan and Urumqi has established a new air link connecting Armenia with China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, bringing together two places whose histories are closely tied to the ancient Silk Road.

For centuries, the Silk Road connected East and West, allowing goods, cultures and people to move across continents.

Today, the Yerevan-Urumqi route revives that connection in a modern form, linking two destinations that once played important roles along this historic trade network.

For Armenia, the direct route to Urumqi opens fresh opportunities to expand tourism, business ties and people-to-people exchanges with China.

Beyond improving travel, the new connection also creates greater potential for cooperation in trade, logistics, investment and cultural exchange.

The route, which China Southern Airlines has recently increased to six flights a week, also illustrates how the Silk Road has evolved over time. Where caravans once carried silk, jade, spices and other goods across deserts and mountain passes, today’s connections rely on aviation, logistics and modern transport infrastructure, bringing Armenia and China closer together.

Located in northwestern China, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is the country’s largest province-level administrative division. Long known as China’s gateway to Central Asia, Xinjiang has undergone significant economic development in recent years, strengthening its role as a bridge between China, Central Asia and Europe and becoming an important hub for Belt and Road cooperation.

Sharing borders with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and India, the province occupies one of the most strategically important locations in China.

Its capital, Urumqi, serves as the region’s political, economic and cultural center. It is also one of western China’s main transportation and logistics hubs, connecting China with Central Asian markets and broader international transport networks.

Scholars have offered different interpretations of the origin of the name “Urumqi,” including the possibility that it comes from the Mongolian language. According to one widely told account, Genghis Khan entered the region in search of grasslands and, upon reaching the area, described it as a “beautiful pasture,” which the name means.

Nestled between the Gurbantunggut Desert to the north and the Taklamakan Desert to the south, Urumqi reflects the distinctive geography and long history of Xinjiang.

A Historic Silk Road Crossroads

Xinjiang has for centuries stood at the heart of the ancient Silk Road, where its Northern, Central and Southern land routes converged. In its earliest days, it was primarily a jade trading route rather than a silk route, earning it the name the Jade Road.

The region’s ethnic and cultural diversity is rooted in this long history of exchange. The Uyghurs are one of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities. Xinjiang’s total population is over 20 million. Aside from Uyghurs it is also home to many other ethnicities, namely Han and Kazakhs, among others.

Among Urumqi’s most recognizable landmarks is the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, an Islamic-style marketplace that brings together traditional architecture, ethnic commerce, tourism and entertainment. Often described as one of the world’s largest bazaars by scale, it reflects both the enduring legacy of the Silk Road and the cultural diversity of Xinjiang.

Today, Urumqi is a dynamic modern city that welcomes visitors from across China and abroad, with the Grand Bazaar remaining one of its most popular attractions.

Every day, thousands of people visit the marketplace for shopping and sightseeing. Countless stalls and shops offer aromatic spices, fine jade, colorful silk garments, famous local fruits and a wide selection of traditional foods, many of which were once traded along the ancient Silk Road.

Walking through the bazaar is a sensory experience. The aroma of grilled lamb skewers fills the air, freshly ground spices add their distinctive fragrance, and Uyghur performers in traditional dress bring music and dance to the lively streets. Alongside modern restaurants, visitors can sample Xinjiang naan, a traditional Central Asian flatbread that remains a daily staple for Uyghur and other ethnic communities. The marketplace also includes a museum dedicated to the history of naan and the traditional methods used to bake it.

Coffee has not traditionally been part of everyday life in the region. In recent years, however, growing interest among younger people has inspired local bakers to experiment with new ideas. One result is naan coffee, a viral trend in which espresso or lattes are served inside a hollowed-out, cup-shaped piece of freshly baked naan. The combination highlights how local culinary traditions continue to evolve while remaining rooted in the region’s heritage.

Just outside downtown Urumqi, a major museum presents a comprehensive overview of Xinjiang’s development, highlighting the region’s transformation across infrastructure, industry, culture, and public services. Through exhibits on the modernization of formerly underdeveloped villages, the growth of the oil industry, the preservation of cultural heritage, and large-scale government investment, the museum illustrates the broad changes that have shaped Xinjiang in recent decades.

A Modern Community

Alongside its economic growth, Urumqi has expanded public services at the community level.

On July 13, 2022, during his visit to Guyuanxiang Community in Tianshan District, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with residents of all ethnic groups. Xi issued recommendations to local officials, who are working diligently to care for all ethnic groups. The authorities are doing their utmost to provide practical assistance, deliver quality services, and solve problems for the people in the community.

Xi said that all ethnic groups should be closely united like the “seeds of a pomegranate.”

Xi Jinping has pointed out that “Cultural identity is the deepest form of identity. It is the root of ethnic unity and the soul of all ethnic groups.”

Across the city, neighborhood service centers offer residents a wide range of government, legal, employment and social services through one-stop facilities designed to make daily life more convenient.

One such example is the South Community of Yuejin Street on Heijiashan Street in Tianshan District. Home to nearly 1,500 households and more than 4,000 residents from different ethnic backgrounds, the neighborhood has undergone extensive redevelopment in recent years.

Local officials say the area once relied on coal-fired heating and struggled with muddy roads, as well as outdated water and sewage systems. Heijiashan was among the first neighborhoods selected for redevelopment under Urumqi’s urban renewal program.

“As you can see today, the area has been transformed with modern high-rise residential buildings, a pleasant living environment and well-developed public facilities,” a local official told Armenpress during a visit to the community center.

The one-stop service center brings together a range of public services, including government administration, public security, utility assistance, legal support, employment services and community mediation. It also offers vocational training, flexible employment opportunities and entrepreneurship programs aimed at supporting local residents.

The community places particular emphasis on education. Among its programs are English-language classes for children. Grace, a Uyghur English teacher, said that learning English remains valuable for younger generations.

“I graduated in the early 2000s,” she told Armenpress. “Back then, learning English was very much in demand.”

“Everyone studied English in college, and later we had some training centers. I chose English for my master’s degree. Then I worked in a primary school in Urumqi for four years.”

“Today, children also need to learn English for their future careers,” she said while showing a brightly decorated classroom filled with paintings created by her students.

Beyond education, the center provides childcare, programs for young people, senior care and volunteer initiatives. It also hosts regular cultural events and community activities that encourage interaction among residents from different ethnic backgrounds.

Natural Resources and Industry

In addition to its historical importance, Xinjiang is one of China’s most resource-rich regions. Much of its landscape is dominated by the Altai, Kunlun and Tian Shan mountain ranges, while the region also holds significant reserves of coal, oil and natural gas.

These resources have played a central role in Xinjiang’s economic growth, helping make it China’s largest producer of natural gas and one of the country’s strategic energy bases. In 2025, authorities opened a new passenger terminal at Urumqi’s airport, while the older terminals were converted for cargo operations as Belt and Road trade continued to expand.

Although Xinjiang has traditionally been known for agriculture, its economy has become increasingly diversified. The region is one of the world’s leading producers of cotton and has also developed into a major manufacturing base for solar panel components.

Viticulture has grown as well. China’s largest winery, Changyu, operates the Château Changyu Baron Balboa winery in Shihezi, which has become a popular destination for visitors.

A Growing Belt and Road Hub

Xinjiang has steadily strengthened its position as one of China’s key Belt and Road hubs. During a visit to the Urumqi International Land Port Area in 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that, as Belt and Road cooperation advances, Xinjiang is no longer a remote frontier but has become a core area and an important hub.

With its strategic location, abundant natural resources, expanding industrial base and developing logistics infrastructure, Xinjiang continues to deepen China’s connections with Central Asia and Europe.

The launch of direct flights between Yerevan and Urumqi further underlines this growing connectivity, establishing a new air bridge between Armenia and western China while building on the historic links created along the ancient Silk Road.

Tourism

Throughout the 2020s, Xinjiang has become one of China’s leading destinations for domestic tourism, drawing visitors with its dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and historic Silk Road landmarks.

From vast deserts and mountain ranges to centuries-old bazaars and diverse cultural traditions, Xinjiang combines ancient history with modern development, reinforcing its role as China’s gateway to Central Asia and an important hub along the modern Silk Road.

While caravans once crossed deserts and mountain passes carrying goods between East and West, today’s connections are shaped by aviation, logistics and digital infrastructure, opening new possibilities for closer ties between Armenia and China.

Marking her first 100 days as the Asian Development Bank’s Country Director for Armenia, Ms. Lyaziza Sabyrova reflects on her first impressions of the country, ADB’s long-standing partnership with Armenia, and the institution’s priorities for supporting sustainable, inclusive, and private sector-led growth in the years ahead.

Armenpress: Ms. Sabyrova, congratulations on your first 100 days as ADB Country Director for Armenia. Could you tell us a little about yourself and your first impressions of Armenia? 

Sabyrova: Thank you very much. It is a real honor for me to serve as ADB’s Country Director for Armenia. I have been with ADB since 2000 and, over the years, have worked across East Asia, Central Asia, and South Caucasus. Most recently, I served as Regional Head for Regional Cooperation and Integration in ADB’s Central and West Asia Department, where my work focused on economic cooperation, regional connectivity and integration, as well strategic work across the region.

Armenia is not entirely new to me. Earlier in my career, I had the privilege of working closely on ADB’s engagement with Armenia, including leading the preparation of ADB’s first Country Partnership Strategy for the country for 2014–2018. That experience gave me a strong appreciation of Armenia’s development ambitions and potential. It is therefore especially meaningful to return now in the new capacity and see how much progress the country has made.

During my first 100 days, I have had the opportunity to start reconnecting with Armenia —not only through meetings, but also by travelling across the country, visiting project sites, and speaking with people whose lives are directly touched by the development work. What struck me most was not only Armenia’s rich history and culture which are deeply inspiring, but also the country’s energy, resilience, and ambition to build a stronger, more competitive, and better-connected economy.

With my colleagues, I have visited ADB-supported schools that provide safer learning environments for children, travelled along transport corridors that are improving connectivity, and met families whose housing conditions are changing through reforms supported by ADB. I also met a local entrepreneur who started a business after the construction of the North–South Road Corridor and is now benefiting from the improved access and new economic opportunities it has created. I have also seen firsthand how ADB is working with local financial institutions to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), helping businesses grow and create jobs. These moments stay with you. They remind us that development is not only about projects, roads, or financing—it is about people, their choices, and the opportunities they have to build a better future for themselves and their families.

I have also been fortunate to join a strong and dedicated ADB Armenia team that is deeply committed to supporting the country’s development.

Armenpress: ADB has been a long-standing development partner of Armenia. How would you describe ADB’s contribution to the country’s development?

Sabyrova: ADB has been partnering with Armenia since 2005 and today is one of the country’s largest multilateral development partners. As of the end of 2025, ADB’s cumulative commitments for sovereign and non-sovereign operations in Armenia reached about $2.5 billion. But beyond the numbers, what matters most is how this support is helping Armenia respond to real development needs.

Many people associate ADB with transport infrastructure, including the North–South Road Corridor and urban transport projects. These are indeed very important, because connectivity is essential for Armenia’s economic growth, regional integration, and access to markets. But ADB’s partnership with Armenia goes much further.

We are also supporting safer schools through the Seismic Safety Improvement Program, under which 31 schools have already been completed and 15 more are under construction, with further investments being prepared. In health, ADB is supporting modernization efforts that will help improve health service quality and finance the construction of 24 inclusive, climate- and gender-responsive health facilities across the country. Through the housing reforms program, we are supporting reforms aimed at improving access to affordable, resilient, and inclusive housing, while also strengthening housing finance systems.

Water security is another important area. Armenia, like many countries, is facing increasing pressure from climate change, and ADB is helping the Government identify long-term solutions, including preparatory work for possible reservoir investments and support for climate-smart agriculture. We are also working with Armenia on disaster risk management and climate resilience, helping the country move toward a more proactive and risk-informed approach to natural hazards. As Armenia prepares to host COP-17, we wish it every success in chairing this important global event, and we are pleased to support the Government’s efforts in this, together with other development partners.

Another area which is central to our work is private sector development. We support businesses not only through financing, but also by helping improve the environment in which the private sector can grow. This includes support for reforms, technical assistance, stronger financial institutions, expanded access to finance for MSMEs, and promotion of green and inclusive investment. Operations with local banks are helping mobilize capital for businesses, support job creation, and encourage more sustainable economic growth.

Policy reforms are another important part of ADB’s partnership with Armenia. Through budget support loans, over the past decade, ADB has helped to strengthen the institutions, rules, and systems that underpin economic development. Building on this work, our team, in partnership with AFD, is currently preparing a new series of policy-based operations that will help ensure these reforms translate into tangible results through better public services and fiscal management, deeper financial markets, and a more supportive environment for businesses and investors.

One thing I have come to appreciate is how interconnected these development challenges are. Progress in one sector often depends on progress in another. Development does not happen in one sector alone. Roads help businesses grow. Safer schools protect children and communities. Better housing improves dignity and stability. Stronger health services improve quality of life. Access to finance helps entrepreneurs take risks and create jobs. Together, these investments help build a stronger foundation for Armenia’s future.

Armenpress: Looking ahead, what are your priorities for Armenia and where do you see the greatest opportunities for cooperation?

Sabyrova: Looking ahead, ADB’s priority is to support Armenia in building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy, in line with the Government’s evolving development agenda and ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for 2026–2030.

We will continue working closely with the Government to support private sector-led growth, strengthen institutions and human capital, improve climate and disaster resilience, and expand connectivity. I also see strong opportunities in regional cooperation and integration, especially as Armenia continues to explore ways to strengthen its links with regional and global markets. Digitalization is another promising area, given Armenia’s strong talent base and growing innovation ecosystem, and ADB stands ready to support efforts to harness digital solutions for more inclusive and sustainable development.  I have also been impressed by the strong collaboration among development partners in Armenia. ADB will continue working closely with fellow partners to support the country’s development priorities.

For me, the most important priority is to ensure that our partnership delivers practical results for people. ADB will continue to bring not only financing, but also knowledge, international experience, and policy support. We want to help Armenia turn its ambitions into concrete progress—through better and smarter infrastructure, more opportunities for businesses, stronger communities, and ultimately, improved quality of life for people across the country.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has imposed new restrictions on imports from Armenia, this time limiting imports of Armenian dairy products into Russia, according to a statement issued by the agency.

“From July 14 to 21, Rosselkhoznadzor specialists inspected Armenian dairy processing plants that had previously been approved on the basis of guarantees provided by the Armenian veterinary service and were supplying products to Russia. The inspections confirmed similar violations to those identified during inspections carried out in 2023–2024,” the statement said.

According to the agency, “the ongoing investigation established that milk from infected animals was being used to manufacture products supplied to Russia.”

“To date, Armenia has not established a system to verify the origin and safety of milk or other dairy raw materials used in production. In view of the violations identified, Rosselkhoznadzor has taken measures to prevent the import into Russia of particularly dangerous infectious diseases,” the statement added.

In recent months, Russia has restricted or completely banned imports of a number of Armenian products, citing various alleged violations as the reason for its decisions.

At the same time, Armenia has been working to diversify its export markets toward the European Union and other destinations. The European Union has stated that Russia is exerting economic pressure on Armenia and has expressed its readiness to support the country.

The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is being held in Busan, the Republic of Korea, from July 19 to 29, with Armenia participating as a committee member for the first time.

Armenia’s delegation includes Harutyun Vanyan, head of the Department for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, along with five national experts. The delegation is led by Aram Hakobyan, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Armenia’s nomination entitled “Areni-1 Cave: Prehistoric Life and Winemaking in the Arpa River Valley” has been approved for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

The nomination was prepared under a memorandum of cooperation previously signed between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the Areni-1 Cave Research Foundation, and the Armenian Enotourism Council NGO, with financial support provided by the Armenian Enotourism Council. The ministry described the initiative as another successful example of public-private partnership.

The newly listed nomination, along with all of Armenia’s previously registered nominations, is available on UNESCO’s official website.

With this addition, Armenia has expanded the number of its properties on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List from the four sites registered in 1995 to eight, following consistent efforts over the past three years.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 24 July, USD exchange rate down by 0.08 drams to 365.87 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.86 drams to 416.43 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0228 drams to 4.6763 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.72 drams to 487.41 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 1307 drams to 47580 drams. Silver price down by 8.15 drams to 690.02 drams.

Armenia’s Food Safety Inspectorate has rejected Rosselkhoznadzor’s claim that inspections carried out in Armenia found that dairy products exported to Russia were produced using milk from diseased animals.

On July 24, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) announced restrictions on imports of dairy products from Armenia. The Russian agency said the decision was based on the alleged finding that inspections at several Armenian dairy producers had revealed the use of milk from diseased animals in the production of dairy products.

Responding to the statement, the Food Safety Inspectorate said it regularly carries out inspections at all dairy production facilities in Armenia under its annual inspection programme and on the basis of consumer complaints.

“If non-compliance is identified during inspections, the Inspectorate suspends the production activities of the relevant facility until the violations are remedied, while hazardous batches are withdrawn from circulation and destroyed.

Although the Russian side has not yet provided the results of the joint inspections conducted by specialists from Rosselkhoznadzor and the Food Safety Inspectorate at four Armenian dairy enterprises from July 14 to 21 this year, we can state that the inspections found no evidence that those facilities had used milk from diseased animals or raw materials imported from other countries.

According to the submitted documentation, the raw materials used in production had undergone laboratory testing and were confirmed to be safe.

The Inspectorate remains committed to ensuring that the entire food production chain complies with the requirements established by food safety legislation,” the statement said.

Armenian Ambassador to Uruguay Mariam Gevorgyan met with Hermenegildo Coene Velázquez, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Paraguay, according to a statement issued by the Armenian Embassy in Uruguay.

The statement said the sides discussed prospects for developing bilateral cooperation in the field of education.

Ambassador Gevorgyan presented Armenia’s education system, highlighting the country’s achievements in the sector and the opportunities it offers.

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court has revoked the pretrial detention of Strong Armenia party lawmaker Davit Ghazinyan. The court also granted the defence’s motion not to impose any alternative preventive measure, including bail. Ghazinyan was released from the courtroom.

Earlier, the public prosecutor had requested that Ghazinyan’s detention be replaced with 1 billion drams (about $2.6 million) in bail, a travel ban and administrative supervision through electronic monitoring.

The court also ruled that precedents set by the Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court apply in Ghazinyan’s case, meaning that parliamentary immunity is applicable to him.

On July 21, 2026, the prosecutor referred the criminal case against Ghazinyan, a parliamentary candidate from the Strong Armenia alliance, to the Anti-Corruption Court with an approved indictment.

According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, the investigation found that Ghazinyan, acting in prior agreement with A.M., who allegedly coordinated the work of the alliance’s campaign office in Yerevan, supporter A.S., and other individuals, had prepared to distribute bribes to voters in exchange for votes for the Strong Armenia alliance in the parliamentary elections held on June 7, 2026.

Investigators allege that, to carry out the plan, Ghazinyan handed 1.4 million drams to A.S. to be used for vote-buying. However, the alleged scheme was not completed due to disagreements among the participants over how the money would be distributed to voters, circumstances which investigators said were beyond Ghazinyan’s control. The money was later transferred to A.M.

Public criminal prosecutions have also been initiated against A.M., A.S., L.S., S.H., G.H., H.G. and P.J. on charges related to vote-buying, preparation to commit vote-buying and accepting election bribes.

The case materials, together with the approved indictment, were referred to the Anti-Corruption Court on July 21, 2026.

Earlier, Ghazinyan had been placed in pretrial detention for two months.

He was arrested on June 17 on charges of preparing to commit vote-buying. Before his arrest, Armenia’s Central Election Commission had granted the Prosecutor General’s Office’s motions seeking consent to initiate criminal proceedings against him and to deprive him of his liberty.