Chinese President Xi Jinping and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries as they held talks in Beijing on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
Xi noted that despite the evolving global environment, the relationship between China and Azerbaijan remains robust.
He called for continuous efforts from both sides to enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, deepen international coordination, and open a new chapter of all-round cooperation, so as to boost the development and prosperity of both countries and bring greater benefits to the two peoples.
Xi emphasized that offering each other firm support on issues concerning respective core interests is a fine tradition between China and Azerbaijan, and is also an inherent requirement for being strategic partners.
China supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in its pursuit of a development path tailored to its national realities, said Xi.
Xi also highlighted the fruitful outcomes of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, and the tangible benefits brought to the two peoples through such cooperation.
According to Xi, tariff and trade wars undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, hurt the multilateral trading system, and impact the world economic order.
China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, firmly protect respective legitimate rights and interests, and defend international fairness and justice, said Xi.
For his part, Aliyev said under the strong leadership of President Xi, China's economy and society have experienced rapid development, while its international status and influence continue to rise.
Azerbaijan is firmly committed to the one-China principle, upholds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and supports the Chinese government's effort to achieve national reunification, said the Azerbaijani president.
Aliyev also expressed Azerbaijan's willingness to work with China to further promote the building of comprehensive strategic partnership, expand Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation in sectors such as digital economy, green energy, and science and technology.
Following the talks, the two leaders signed a joint statement on establishing comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan.
They also witnessed the signing of more than 20 cooperation agreements in various sectors, including justice, Belt and Road cooperation, green development, digital economy, intellectual property rights, and space cooperation.
Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome banquet for Aliyev and his wife at the Great Hall of the People at noon on Wednesday.
