INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
At the recent China-Azerbaijan Industry and Investment Cooperation Promotion Conference held in Beijing, Azerbaijan signed 13 projects with
Chinese institutions and enterprises, covering areas such as the digital economy, aluminum expansion, and the establishment of agricultural
machinery production sites.Azerbaijan is China's biggest trading partner in the South Caucasus and China is Azerbaijan's fourth largest
trading partner and largest source of imports, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to China Bunyad Huseynov said during the conference, stressing that
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to its cooperation with China.In recent years, China-Azerbaijan relations have been marked by sound
The two sides have treated each other as partners and promoted practical cooperation in various fields, achieving fruitful results.From
April 22 to 24, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will pay a state visit to China and have in-depth exchange of views on cooperation in
various areas with Chinese leaders, aiming to chart the course for the development of bilateral relations."It is believed that the visit
will further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the people of both countries," a Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday while detailing Aliyev's upcoming visit at a press briefing.Broad prospects for
cooperationChina has become one of Azerbaijan's key economic partners, with bilateral trade seeing an impressive increase of over 43 percent
in 2023, surpassing $3.1 billion.This upward trajectory continued in 2024, with a 21 percent increase in trade recorded from January to
July, reaching $2 billion.The two countries also explore the alignment of green development strategies and policy coordination, and
accelerate the exchange and mutual learning of experience in green development.Institutions, such as the China Electricity Council and the
Center for Energy Transition and Social Development Research of Tsinghua University, have visited Azerbaijan and held in-depth exchanges
with Azerbaijan's government departments, enterprises and scientific research institutions.Last July, Azerbaijan's government signed a
framework agreement with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto Co., Ltd
In addition to Azerbaijan's purchase of 160 electric buses, the two sides will also carry out deeper cooperation in localized production and
other areas in the future.Chinese enterprises have also been chosen to supply solar panels for Azerbaijan, with ongoing discussions about
direct Chinese investments in Azerbaijan's green energy sector.Establishing a strategic partnership with China is "a very important
milestone" for Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani side is actively collaborating with Chinese companies, President Ilham Aliyev recently said
at an international forum in Baku.The president said his country has supported the Belt and Road Initiative from the beginning, highlighting
"not only publicly supported but also invested in it."
