• 22 Oct
• 2025

RAU on the International SCO Platform: Naira Grigoryan  Spoke at the SCO High-Level Roundtable on Global Governance in Beijing

High-level roundtable dialogue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Beijing.

On October 16, 2025, a high-level roundtable dialogue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Beijing, focused on key issues of global governance for the year 2025.

By special invitation, Armenia was represented at the forum by Naira Grigoryan — Head of the Chinese Language and Culture Center at the Russian-Armenian University (RAU), founding Director of the Confucius Institute in Armenia, prominent Sinologist, and expert in international humanitarian cooperation. She was the sole participant from Armenia at the event.

In her speech, Naira Grigoryan emphasized the importance of education as a fundamental tool for global engagement in an era of rapid transformation.

“Education is not merely the transfer of knowledge — it is the building of a bridge between cultures, on which genuine dialogue is established. In times of global instability, it is humanitarian ties that form the foundation for mutual understanding and a shared future,” Grigoryan highlighted.

She noted the potential of educational and humanitarian initiatives within the SCO framework and proposed RAU as a platform for launching new joint programs in academic and cultural exchange.

Armenia’s participation in such a prominent international forum reflects a growing interest in contributing actively to the humanitarian dimension of SCO cooperation. Naira Grigoryan’s address was a meaningful contribution to enhancing Armenia’s academic presence in the Eurasian space and demonstrated the country’s readiness to take part in broader integration processes.

The forum brought together leading international figures and experts, including:

Chang Be, Director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of China,
Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary-General of the SCO,
Sun Lingjiang, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for Eurasian Affairs,
Chang Cide, UN Coordinator in China,
as well as representatives of the SCO Secretariat, the United Nations, and over 150 experts and analysts from SCO member states.

In his address, Sun Lingjiang reiterated China’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the “SCO family” countries, promoting shared human values, implementing global initiatives, and building a stronger community with a shared future.

The event was organized with the support of the Bureau of Foreign Languages of China, the SCO Secretariat, the China Institute of International Studies, the Communication Center for Central and Eastern Europe and Central and South Asia, and the Institute for Contemporary China and World Studies.

Naira Grigoryan’s participation in this international event marks a significant step in strengthening dialogue, fostering open engagement, and promoting long-term cooperation within the SCO framework. Her contribution to the development of Armenian-Chinese humanitarian ties was officially recognized with a special appreciation from the forum organizers.