On May 23, 2025, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Academician Ashot Saghyan, hosted a delegation headed by Mr. Wang Kun, Director General of the China Earthquake Administration (CEA). The delegation arrived in Armenia to participate in the opening ceremony of the seismogeodynamic network and data collection and processing center, built within the framework of Armenian-Chinese cooperation which took place on May 22 at the Institute of Geophysics and Engineering Seismology after A. Nazarov. The visit also aimed to strengthen ongoing collaboration and explore future joint initiatives.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the China Earthquake Administration and the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia with the aim of strengthening and developing collaboration in the field of earthquake research.

NAS RA President Ashot Saghyan awarded Professor Dr. Li Li, Director of the Institute of Geophysics of China and Secretary General of the Asian Seismological Commission, the honorary doctorate of the NAS RA in appreciation of his significant contributions to the installation, operation, and further development of seismic stations in Armenia. 

In his speech of gratitude, Professor Li Li stated: "The honorary doctorate is a great honor for me and a source of pride. It encourages me to work and to deepen cooperation".

Mr. Wang Kun, Director General of the China Earthquake Administration, highlighted: "The Chinese leadership highly values the work carried out, as earthquake research is of great importance to the People’s Republic of China. We expect our cooperation to continue and yield outcomes that will help us prevent and study earthquakes and fight against them as well and prepare our societies".

Academician Ashot Saghyan emphasized the importance of Armenian-Chinese scientific cooperation, noting: "This is a highly significant event for our country and people. The devastating 1988 earthquake in Armenia claimed more than 20,000 lives. It is symbolic that the main structure of this newly established seismic research and monitoring center is located in Gyumri, a city that was heavily affected by the earthquake".

President Saghyan also underlined the capabilities of the new center: "Equipped with ultra-modern tools for rapid information response, transmission, and an analytical hub, this system will address numerous scientific and practical issues in geophysics, seismology, and applied earthquake studies. It will also support the implementation of guaranteed seismic-resistant construction and contribute to solving problems related to earthquake prediction". He expressed gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Embassy in Armenia, and all partners for their support.

John Karapetyan, Director of the NAS RA Institute of Geophysics and Engineering Seismology named after Armen Nazarov, noted that the seismogeodynamic network established through this cooperation enables global earthquake detection. The creation of the seismogeodynamic network and the data collection and processing center was made possible through the active involvement and support of the Chinese government, the Chinese Embassy in Armenia, the China Earthquake Administration, the CEA Institute of Geophysics, as well as the Government of Armenia, the RA Committee of Higher Education and Science, the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, and the NAS RA Division of Chemistry and Earth Sciences.

Department of Public Relations and Science PopularizationNational Academy of Sciences of Armenia
May 23, 2025