Azerbaijan, China Announce New Era of Cooperation in Strategic Partnership Declaration – Caspian News

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Xi Jinping of China signed a Joint Declaration on Wednesday, establishing a strategic partnership between their countries.

In a meeting before the signing, both leaders praised the declaration as the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations and a significant step in strengthening their mutual ties in all areas.

Amidst the complex international and regional landscape, the Joint Declaration expressed a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation in political, economic, and cultural spheres, as well as collaborating on international issues, protecting mutual interests, and promoting regional and global peace, stability, and development.

Azerbaijan reaffirmed its support for the “One China” policy, recognizing the Chinese government as the only legitimate authority representing all of China and acknowledging Taiwan as part of China. Azerbaijan also opposed any form of “Taiwan independence” and supported peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait and China’s reunification efforts.

China, in turn, endorsed Azerbaijan’s peace agenda and criticized geopolitical actions aimed at sustaining confrontation.

The Declaration stated that terrorism, separatism, and extremism are major global threats that require joint efforts to combat.

A significant focus of the document is on industrialization and investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and China. The two countries aim to facilitate company activities and promote collaboration in key areas such as energy, green energy, transport infrastructure, ICT, digital economy, non-ferrous metals, and building materials, aiming for tangible results based on market economy principles.

Trade between Azerbaijan and China has reached $3 billion, with potential for further growth. Azerbaijan has opened trade houses in six Chinese cities to promote its products, and Baku has increased imports from Chinese suppliers. In a recent agreement, China’s automotive giant BYD will invest $60 million in the production of electric passenger buses and spare parts in Azerbaijan.

The Declaration also emphasizes practical cooperation within the “Belt and Road Initiative” and calls for the signing of an agreement to develop international multimodal transport between Azerbaijan and China. Both countries commit to ensuring the safety and continuous operation of international transport corridors through their territories and creating favorable conditions for transit traffic according to national legislation and bilateral agreements.

China is keen to participate in the construction and use of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (“Middle Corridor”) and seeks closer cooperation with Azerbaijan and other countries along the route to ensure the smooth operation and development of the southern corridor for China-Europe freight trains. Beijing aims to deepen regional cooperation and ensure the stability of production and supply chains.

China also supports Azerbaijan’s hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and is ready to collaborate on climate change, particularly in clean energy. The Declaration encourages companies from both countries to cooperate in green and low-carbon technologies, including new energy generation, energy storage, new energy vehicles, electricity transmission, energy conservation, and emissions reduction.

Azerbaijan will host COP29 in November, with tens of thousands of participants and guests expected to discuss collective efforts against climate change.