Azerbaijan and China agree to expand strategic cooperation

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Baku on Wednesday, where Wang attended the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia as a special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Aliyev highlighted the high level of political trust and economic cooperation between the two countries, saying agreements reached during his visit to China last year are being steadily implemented.

He said Azerbaijan intends to expand cooperation with China in energy, transport infrastructure and other sectors and welcomes greater Chinese investment. The two sides also highlighted cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and projects linked to the Middle Corridor.

Aliyev called for fuller use of the mutual visa-free regime to expand people-to-people exchanges and reaffirmed Azerbaijan's support for the one-China principle.

Wang Yi said Beijing is ready to deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan and other participants in the Middle Corridor and remain a long-term strategic partner in the country's development.

The Chinese foreign minister also highlighted mutual support on key issues and said China is prepared to strengthen coordination with Azerbaijan on international and regional platforms.

During the visit, Wang Yi also held talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

According to CCTV+, the two sides reaffirmed their intention to expand trade, investment and transport cooperation while strengthening coordination on international and regional affairs.