President Ilham Aliyev Meets Top Chinese Legislator Zhao Leji in Beijing

Beijing, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a meeting on April 23 with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, during his official visit to Beijing.

Chairman Zhao praised Azerbaijan’s achievements in sustainable development, economic progress, and improvements in public welfare under President Aliyev’s leadership. He described China-Azerbaijan relations as a sincere friendship and strategic partnership, noting that bilateral ties are currently experiencing their most dynamic and productive period in history, owing to the close cooperation between the two countries’ leaders.

President Aliyev echoed these sentiments, stating that Azerbaijan-China relations have reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership, reflecting mutual trust and deepening collaboration across multiple sectors.

Reaffirming Azerbaijan’s firm support for the One China policy, President Aliyev condemned the recent elections held in Taiwan. He also highlighted the shared commitment of Azerbaijan and China in combating terrorism, extremism, separatism, and radicalism.

The two sides discussed their cooperation within international organizations and emphasized the growing significance of the Middle Corridor as a critical route for transcontinental trade. They noted an over 80% increase in cargo shipments by Chinese companies via the corridor and a 20% rise in bilateral trade turnover.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the strengthening of inter-parliamentary relations, including the cooperation between legislative committees and friendship groups. The partnership between the New Azerbaijan Party and the Communist Party of China was highlighted as a foundation for further collaboration in governance, policymaking, and institutional development.

The discussion also touched on expanding cooperation in youth engagement, culture, and sports, and explored the possibility of establishing a joint Azerbaijan-China University to foster academic and scientific exchange.

Additionally, the leaders addressed opportunities in the renewable energy sector. They acknowledged the selection of China’s BYD as a strategic partner for the export of electric vehicles to Azerbaijan, as well as for the local production of electric buses, marking a significant step in the country’s green transition efforts.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment of Azerbaijan and China to deepening their bilateral relationship across a broad spectrum of strategic areas.