China are very important partners for each other, and 33 years have
passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the
countries, Azerbaijani MP Mushfig Jafarov told Trend.
According to him, during this time, our relations have developed
based on mutual trust. Today, Azerbaijan has close relations with
China in almost all directions.
He said that the successful development of Azerbaijan-China
relations is also connected to the mutual political will of both
heads of state:
“Furthermore, the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative has had
special significance in deepening these relations. In 2019,
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was the only head of state
from the South Caucasus to attend the 2nd Belt and Road
International Cooperation Forum held in Beijing. Naturally, this
stemmed from the high level of trust in our head of state.
The political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and
China, formed based on such consistent development, not only serve
the national interests of both countries but also contribute to
peace, stability, and socio-economic progress. Azerbaijan’s
relations with this state, which has the second-largest economy in
the world and significant weight and influence in global affairs,
continue to develop with increasing dynamism,” Jafarov said.
According to the MP, special importance is currently being given
to the development of cooperation in all areas of mutual interest
between the two countries.
“As President Ilham Aliyev stated in his interview with China’s
Xinhua agency, the deepening of bilateral relations is one of the
important directions of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Today,
Azerbaijan and China are actively cooperating not only in trade but
also in production, infrastructure construction, industrial
sectors, agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, and other
fields. In recent years, effective investment cooperation has been
carried out between Azerbaijan and China,” Jafarov mentioned.
The MP added that the abolition of visas will also positively
affect relations in the field of tourism.
“Mutual tourist flow will increase dynamically. According to
statistical data, a significant increase in the number of Chinese
tourists coming to Azerbaijan was recorded last year. The main
reason for this was the unilateral visa cancellation by Azerbaijan
for Chinese citizens, which played an important role.
The elevation of Azerbaijani-Chinese relations to the level of
strategic partnership over the past two years is unprecedented. The
Joint Declaration signed by the heads of state will create a strong
foundation for further expansion of cooperation between our
countries,” he noted.
Commenting on the issue, another MP, Sevinj Huseynova stated
that China-Azerbaijan relations are based on principles of
stability and mutually beneficial cooperation.
“Against the backdrop of global changes and new geopolitical
realities, these relations are gaining even more significance.
President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to China and the signing of numerous
documents between the two countries are taking Azerbaijan-China
relations to a new stage,” she pointed out.
The MP recalled that many important documents were signed during
the visit.
“President Ilham Aliyev and Chairman Xi Jinping signed the
‘Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s
Republic of China’. In addition, important documents covering many
areas of cooperation between the two countries were signed. All of
these documents will enable the relations between the two countries
to move to a new stage and open up new perspectives for expanding
cooperation. In the future, it is expected that cooperation between
the two countries in the fields of energy, transportation, high
technology, and alternative energy will deepen further,” Huseynova
explained.
The MP added that diplomatic relations between China and
Azerbaijan were established in April 1992.
“Since then, cooperation between the two countries in political,
economic, transport, and cultural fields has continuously
developed. These relations have been further strengthened,
especially in the last decade, through a series of mutual visits
and international initiatives,” she also said.
Huseynova noted that China and Azerbaijan maintain relations
based on mutual political respect and the principles of recognition
of sovereignty.
“The mutual visits of heads of state and high-level delegations
play an important role in deepening these relations. In particular,
the meetings between President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese leaders
determine the future directions of bilateral cooperation. China, in
addition to being one of Azerbaijan’s main trade partners, is also
considered a significant partner in the region within the framework
of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. Azerbaijan, by taking
advantage of its geographical location at the intersection of
East-West and North-South transport corridors, is becoming a
strategic logistics hub for the region, including for China,” the
MP concluded.