Azerbaijan is eyeing China as a key tourism market, following President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit earlier this year and a new visa‑exemption agreement. A high‑level meeting on October 29 underscored the next phase in tourism cooperation between Azerbaijan and China.
Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Chinese Ambassador Lu Mei, affirming that China is now a priority tourist market for Azerbaijan following state visits and bilateral agreements earlier this year.
During his remarks, Naghiyev highlighted the April state visit of Ilham Aliyev to China, which opened new vistas in bilateral relations and set the stage for tourism expansion. In particular, he cited the mutual visa‑exemption agreement between the two countries as one of the most important steps toward fostering tourism flows. The agreement was formalised via a “Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” signed in Beijing, on April 23.
Ambassador Lu Mei affirmed that Azerbaijan’s rich natural, historical and cultural tourism assets are drawing growing interest from Chinese travellers. Meanwhile, statistics back up a rapid uptick in Chinese tourist arrivals: the number of Chinese visitors to Azerbaijan reportedly reached 44,798 in 2024, up from earlier years.
Furthermore, data for 2025 show continued strong momentum: in January–April 2025, arrivals from China climbed by around 70% year‑on‑year.
The visa‑exemption regime is already in effect: a one‑year unilateral visa‑free policy allowed Chinese tourists to visit Azerbaijan without visa from July 20, 2024 to July 20, 2025. Under it, citizens of China could enter up to three times and stay up to 30 days per visit.
In parallel, Azerbaijan’s tourism sector as a whole is on an upswing: the country received 2.627 million foreign and stateless visitors in 2024 — a 25.9% increase over the previous year.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint r...
Bahrain’s state-owned oil company Bapco has declared force majeure after an attack set the country’s only refinery ablaze. The firm say...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stori...
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling th...
An Israeli air strike and tank shelling killed six Palestinians, including two girls, in Gaza City on Sunday...
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Global oil prices have surged past $110 a barrel this Monday as fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes hit multiple targets, including oil depots. Stock markets fell on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global energy supply.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to expect further strikes on Saturday (7 March). In a post on social media, he said Iran would be 'hit very hard'. His comments came a week into the conflict with Iran, which has spread across the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Baku has completed its evacuation of staff from the Azerbaijan Consulate General in Tabriz, while most employees from the Azerbaijan Embassy in Tehran have also returned.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport came under attack in heavy airstrikes on early Saturday morning (7 March), Iranian news agencies reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
Bahrain’s state-owned oil company Bapco has declared force majeure after an attack set the country’s only refinery ablaze. The firm says domestic supplies remain secure, but operations are disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict, underscoring regional energy risks.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
An Israeli air strike and tank shelling killed six Palestinians, including two girls, in Gaza City on Sunday (8 March) in two separate attacks, local health officials say.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
After days of high-altitude competition and fierce rivalries and despite challenging conditions in Shahdag, Europe’s top athletes pushed to the summit in one final test of endurance before the competition finished.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment