Azerbaijan official highlights strategic partnership with China

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov said the partnership between Azerbaijan and China is thriving after over 30 years of diplomatic relations during a roundtable discussion at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) in Beijing on Thursday.

During the event, Mammadov discussed the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and China, particularly their cooperation on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) connecting Asia to Europe via Azerbaijan and Central Asia.

Elnur Mammadov, deputy minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan, delivers a speech at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) in Beijing, Mar. 27, 2025.

Mammadov underscored the resilience of the Azerbaijan-China partnership, noting that the two nations have enjoyed more than three decades of steady and very friendly bilateral relations.

“The stable trajectory of our relationship speaks to its very resilient nature,” he said, emphasizing the mutual respect and cooperation that have defined their ties.

This discussion followed the two countries’ formalization of their strategic partnership through a joint declaration at the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) last year.

Mammadov highlighted the declaration as a comprehensive framework for broader collaboration in politics, economics, culture and international affairs.

The declaration also reaffirms the commitment of both countries to protecting their shared interests and boosting connectivity, particularly along the TITR, according to Mammadov.

“I believe this year will be especially important for the bilateral ties between our two nations during China’s rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025. And I hope that by the end of this year, we will be able to register even more remarkable progress in our relationship,” he said.

Mammadov expressed optimism about the relations as the two countries approach their 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2027.

“We are very proud of the Azerbaijan-China relationship, and we invest significant resources into this cherished partnership. We hope that in the years and decades to come, we will witness new heights in this relationship,” he said.

The event also highlighted personal connections between the two nations when Chinese professor Su Hao at China Foreign Affairs University reunited with his former student Rashad Karimov, now head of the Asia and Oceania Department of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Such people-to-people ties reflect the breadth and depth of Azerbaijan-China relations, officials said.

From China Daily，2025-3-31