The Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS RA, with the multifaceted support of the Armenian branch of Confucius Institute is going to organise an international conference entitled "Understanding the dynamic of ‘’Belt and road initiative’’: main trends". The conference is dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). It will be attended by distinguished specialists in the field. The conference is scheduled to be held on 23, October, 2023.

Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), 2013, China's involvement in various regions - the Middle East and North Africa, the Eurasian region, including the Central Asia, the South Caucasus and beyond – has sharply increased. The economic component of the BRI, with multilateral infrastructural mega-projects, was complemented by cultural and security segments.

Unprecedented economic involvement contributed to the infiltration of Chinese "soft power" in the Great Middle East, which includes successfully deployed diplomatic efforts, mediation tools, and the spread of Chinese culture, language and education.

Оne of the main goals of the conference is to analyse the transformations of Chinese public diplomacy in the South Caucasus, first of all in Armenia, since the launch of the "Belt and Road Initiative", as well as peculiarities of Armenia-China relations.

The conference will try to discuss also the transformation of China's "soft power" strategy in the Greater Middle East, from cultural, socio-economic, energetic, and security perspectives, measuring its intentions, challenges and opportunities.

The main points to be discussed are:
The spread of Chinese culture, language and education in Armenia: the overall dynamics
The dynamics of multilateral relations between Armenia and China in the context of BRI
China's "soft power" policy in the South Caucasus. main trends
‘’Soft power’’ diplomacy of China, India and Japan in the South Caucasus. comparative analysis
China's diplomacy in the Great Middle East in the context of BRI: the past, present and perspective
The proceedings of the conference will be published in a special volume, in English. The abstract up to 350 words in English, the author's name, surname, place of work, academic degree and short biography of the authors can be sent to Dr. Aram Abajyan (research fellow of the department of international relations of the Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS, RA) to the following addresses: аramabajyan@gmail.com. The deadline for applications is 25 September, 2023.

Travel and accommodation expenses are not covered by the organizers.

The working languages of the conference are: Armenian, English, Russian.