Azerbaijan

In a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday, President Xi Jinping underscored the need to view bilateral relations from a strategic height, increase strategic mutual trust, strengthen mutual support, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and work for steady, in-depth and practical cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

China welcomes Azerbaijan to join China in implementing the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, he said, and the two countries need to expand trade, improve the trade mix, increase the number of China-Europe Express freight train services, and ensure unimpeded international supply chains.

Xi expressed confidence that the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Azerbaijan enjoys broad prospects.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and China are true strategic partners, that the two sides maintain close communication in international affairs, and that bilateral cooperation is advancing steadily.

Azerbaijan adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, firmly opposes any actions that interfere in China's internal affairs or split China, and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, Aliyev said.