Azerbaijan

President Xi hailed Azerbaijan as an important cooperative partner for China in Eurasia during a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.

Xi noted that Azerbaijan was among the first countries to have responded to and participated in the joint building of the Belt and Road and that cooperation between the two countries has already seen a series of outcomes, which brought about concrete benefits to both peoples.

China supports the people of Azerbaijan to select a development path that suits their own conditions as well as their efforts to develop the economy and improve livelihoods, he said.

China also stands ready to work with Azerbaijan to use the joint building of the Belt and Road as an opportunity to align development plans, deepen cooperation in areas including infrastructure and expand exchanges in culture, education and at the local level, he said.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan sees China as a steadfast friend and partner, and it will offer unreserved support to China on issues related to its core interests and major concerns.

He noted that economic and trade cooperation between the two nations has seen rapid growth and that there is still huge potential for bilateral cooperation in areas including investment, oil and gas exploitation, agriculture, information, telecommunications and tourism.