Azerbaijan and China: an important direction of foreign policy

Azerbaijan and China are connected by warm, friendly relations and comprehensive strategic partnership. Deepening these relations is one of the important directions of Azerbaijan's foreign policy.

This was stated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his speech on September 1 at the "SCO plus" format meeting in the Chinese city of Tianjin. The meeting was attended by leaders of more than 20 countries, as well as heads of 10 international organizations, reports the newspaper "Caspian".

A new page in relations

Over the past two years, Azerbaijani-Chinese ties have reached a qualitatively new level. It all began with the SCO Summit in Astana, during which a strategic partnership was established between the two countries. And during the state visit of the head of the Azerbaijani state to China this year, a Joint Statement on establishing relations of comprehensive strategic partnership was signed. "This historic event opened a new page in Azerbaijani-Chinese relations," President Ilham Aliyev said, speaking at the "SCO plus".

Our interaction at the highest level is evidenced by the fact that Azerbaijan has actively supported China's global development initiative, global security initiative, and global civilization initiative, put forward by this country to promote international peace, security, and development.

Azerbaijan also supported the global governance initiative presented by the Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping as an important and timely measure aimed at improving international relations based on the sovereign equality of states and respect for the UN Charter and international law.

A reliable partner of China

Interaction between Azerbaijan and China, as our President stated, is strengthening across the entire spectrum of the bilateral agenda. It includes political, trade-economic, investment, energy, transport-logistics spheres, development of digital economy, science and technology, education and culture. And the visa-free regime for citizens of both countries, which has been in effect since July of this year, gives impetus to the development of tourism.

In his speech, the head of state emphasized that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of China in the region, as "we contribute to maintaining international and regional peace and security, implement large-scale economic, transport and energy projects."

In addition, Azerbaijan was one of the first to support the "One Belt, One Road" initiative put forward by the Chairman of the PRC. In this direction, our country is implementing serious practical projects.

Being one of the transport and logistics centers of Eurasia, our country is actively developing international transport corridors, creating modern infrastructure. Thus, the East-West and North-South corridors have opened new economic and transport perspectives.

The significance of the Zangezur Corridor

Touching on the capacity of the Alat International Seaport, the head of our state announced the intention to increase it from 15 to 25 million tons per year.

Speaking about the development of the Middle Corridor, which is a reliable and safe route connecting China and Central Asia with Europe through Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev noted that since 2022, the volume of cargo flow along the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan has increased by almost 90 percent. At the same time, the time for cargo passage along this corridor has been reduced.