Baku: Azerbaijani and Chinese ruling parties are exploring new avenues of cooperation following a meeting between Tahir Budagov, Deputy Chairman and Head of the Central Office of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), and a Chinese delegation led by Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), at the YAP Central Office on September 8.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, both parties acknowledged the successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and China as a result of policies pursued by Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, and Xi Jinping, President of China and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. The bilateral ties have expanded through constructive political dialogue across multiple sectors, including economic, trade, transport, logistics, education, tourism, cultural, humanitarian, digital technology, and green energy.
The meeting underscored the global importance of projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Zangezur Corridor, highlighting their geostrategic significance. China’s support for Azerbaijan’s engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was also noted as a testament to the robust friendship and partnership between the two nations.
Participants at the meeting reiterated the significance of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and China, emphasizing its importance not only for bilateral relations but also for promoting cooperation across the Global South. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual support for each other’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, along with a shared stance against separatism.
The cooperation between YAP and the CPC was identified as a crucial component of the interstate relationship, with mutual visits and exchanges of views and experiences being deemed vital for assessing current cooperation and setting future goals. The implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation, signed during the YAP delegation’s visit to China in November 2024, was highlighted as a strengthening factor for the strategic partnership.
The positive outcomes of the YAP delegation’s visit to China from May 11-15, 2026, were recalled, with both parties expressing confidence that ongoing mutual visits will further enhance cooperation. The importance of active youth participation in public and political life was also emphasized, along with the value of fostering collaboration between educational institutions in these fields.