President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held talks with Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, in Beijing on Tuesday, furthering the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
The meeting underscored the growing cooperation between the two nations, following the Joint Declaration on strategic partnership signed in July 2024, which was built upon today with a Joint Statement establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two leaders highlighted the remarkable progress in their bilateral relations, noting that in less than a year, the relationship had evolved from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive one, reflecting the dynamic and expanding ties between the two countries. Both sides praised the increased political, economic, and trade cooperation, including a significant 20% rise in bilateral trade turnover last year, reaching $3.7 billion, with a nearly 40% growth in the first three months of this year alone.
President Aliyev emphasized China's position as Azerbaijan’s number one import partner and its fourth-largest trade partner. He also stressed the importance of the successful implementation of the strategic partnership declaration and the ongoing collaboration in transport and logistics, particularly across Eurasia.
The discussions also covered cooperation in international organizations, notably the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual support for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with Azerbaijan continuing to uphold the "One China" policy. They also highlighted their joint efforts in combating terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
In the context of international relations, President Aliyev expressed the importance of creating mechanisms to enforce UN Security Council resolutions, recalling the impact of their non-implementation on Azerbaijan.
Premier Li Qiang emphasized the importance of the Middle Corridor and reported increased cargo transportation along this route, further discussing efforts to enhance the corridor’s capacity. Additionally, cooperation in renewable energy, oil and gas, and the application of Chinese technologies in Azerbaijan was explored, with both leaders noting significant investment potential.
Li Qiang also highlighted China's readiness to provide humanitarian support for demining efforts in Azerbaijan. The discussions included the significance of lifting visa requirements for Chinese citizens to facilitate easier travel, enhance people-to-people contact, and boost tourism. Both leaders expressed their hope to formalize a reciprocal visa waiver agreement.
Agricultural cooperation was another key topic, with both sides looking to expand efforts in sericulture, cotton production, and agricultural machinery. China’s support for Azerbaijan’s economic diversification, particularly in the digital transformation and development sectors, was also underlined.
The cultural and humanitarian aspects of the relationship were acknowledged, with particular recognition of projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in China. This meeting marks another step forward in the evolving partnership between Azerbaijan and China, reinforcing their commitment to mutual growth and cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
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