China, Armenia announce establishment of strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday jointly announced the establishment of a China-Armenia strategic partnership.

The two leaders met in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit which is running from Sunday and Monday.

During his trip, Pashinyan will also attend a grand military parade on September 3 in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

During their meeting, Xi noted that China and Armenia share a time-honored and enduring friendship.

Xi said that since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Armenia 33 years ago, the two countries have been committed to mutual respect and mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual learning, contributing to the sustained, sound and steady growth of bilateral relations.

Noting that the establishment of a strategic partnership is an important milestone in the course of China-Armenia relations, Xi called on the two countries to carry forward their traditional friendship, offer staunch support to each other, deepen cooperation in various fields, and strive to make new progress in bilateral relations from a new starting point.

He stressed that the two sides should work together to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen connectivity, and promote exchanges in fields such as education, science and technology, culture and tourism, in order to deliver more benefits for the people of the two countries.

China supports Armenia in joining the SCO, and stands ready to work with Armenia to practice true multilateralism, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi added.

For his part, Pashinyan said that under the leadership of President Xi, China has made remarkable development achievements, and Armenia hopes to learn from China to contribute to its own economic and social development.

The establishment of a strategic partnership will promote Armenia-China ties to a higher level, bringing new opportunities and injecting new impetus to the cooperation between the two countries, he said.

Stressing that Armenia firmly follows the one-China principle, Pashinyan said that the country looks forward to expanding economic and trade cooperation with China, maintaining close coordination in international and regional affairs, and striving for new progress in bilateral ties.

The two sides signed a joint statement on the establishment of the strategic partnership, and multiple bilateral cooperation documents following the meeting.

China, Armenia announce establishment of strategic partnership

China, Armenia announce establishment of strategic partnership

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media