Baku, Azerbaijan, April 22. In recent years,
relations between Azerbaijan and China have significantly developed
both politically and economically. Both countries hold key
geopolitical and economic interests in the Eurasian region, which
has created a strong foundation for further cooperation,
Azerbaijani political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.
“Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China were
established in 1992. Over the years, cooperation, built on mutual
respect and non-interference in internal matters, has evolved into
a strategic partnership. China has consistently supported
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and respects its position on the
Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan has also reciprocated China’s stance by supporting
the ‘One China’ policy, including on issues such as Taiwan and
Tibet. Their collaboration extends beyond bilateral relations, with
both nations working together in organizations like the United
Nations and others. As President Ilham Aliyev recently emphasized
in an exclusive interview with China’s Xinhua News Agency, ‘We
attach particular importance to the development of cooperation
between our countries in all areas of mutual interest and view the
deepening of bilateral relations as one of the important directions
of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy,” he said.
According to Garayev, economic ties between the two nations have
expanded considerably in recent years.
“China has become one of Azerbaijan’s key trade partners, with
trade turnover increasing by 20.7 percent in 2024, reaching $3.7
billion. As President Ilham Aliyev highlighted, ‘Indeed, China has
become the fourth largest trading partner for Azerbaijan and its
share in the country’s foreign trade has reached 7.9 percent. It is
also the leader in imports, with its share amounting to 17.69
percent.
Despite the progressive trade and economic cooperation between
the two countries, there is still a huge untapped
potential.‘ The mutual trade composition is
diverse and robust. Chinese companies are playing an active role in
Azerbaijan’s transportation and infrastructure projects. Notably,
the Baku International Sea Trade Port, industrial parks, and other
logistics facilities have emerged as prime investment opportunities
for Chinese investors.
The head of state also highlighted in his interview that, as of
today, 375 companies with Chinese capital have been registered in
Azerbaijan, with 298 of them actively operating in the country.
‘Currently, negotiations are underway between Azerbaijan and
China on the prospects for joint cooperation in the non-oil sector,
in particular, in attracting direct investment in hi-tech and
innovation, alternative and renewable energy.’
This demonstrates that there are still numerous areas where the two
countries can deepen their cooperation,” he remarked.
The political analyst also pointed out that Azerbaijan’s
strategic geographic location has made it a vital transport
hub.
“The core objective of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative is to
establish a sustainable and efficient transport link between Asia
and Europe. Azerbaijan’s role in this initiative is crucial. The
country has supported the initiative from the outset, investing in
numerous projects aimed at its realization.
As President Ilham Aliyev pointed out, ‘It is safe to say that
Azerbaijan is the second country after China to have invested the
most in this project both on its own territory and abroad. Such
important transport projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the
International North-South Transport Corridor and the Trans-Caspian
International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), as well as the
Baku International Trade Seaport, one of the major ports on the
Caspian Sea, are opening up new horizons for the implementation of
economic and transport opportunities within the framework of the
Belt and Road initiative,” he explained.
Garayev emphasized that the potential for further strengthening
ties between Azerbaijan and China is immense.
“There are numerous strategic opportunities for the future
development of Azerbaijan-China relations. New fields such as
alternative energy, agriculture, digital technologies, and tourism
are becoming key areas for collaboration. This partnership extends
beyond traditional sectors and is evolving to address new
challenges and align with global trends.
Azerbaijan’s ‘green energy’ concept and China’s ‘green Silk
Road’ initiative align closely, both serving the shared objectives
of environmental protection and sustainable development. Expanding
Azerbaijan’s transit capabilities and fostering multimodal
transportation will be key areas of future collaboration. For
China, maintaining stable, secure, and fast corridors to Europe is
crucial. In this context, the Middle Corridor emerges as a highly
strategic and alternative route for China.
Green energy and renewable resources play a central role in
Azerbaijan’s energy strategy. As a global leader in this sector,
China brings valuable experience in technology exports. The
involvement of Chinese technologies and investments in developing a
“green energy zone” in Karabakh and East Zangezur represents a
promising avenue for future cooperation. Furthermore, there are
significant opportunities for collaboration in fields like digital
technologies, artificial intelligence, and 5G infrastructure.
Chinese tech companies are increasingly interested in the
Azerbaijani market, paving the way for mutually beneficial,
innovative projects,” he noted.
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