Commenting on the agreements signed during the state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to China, Nadiroghlu noted that the visit was very important for boosting bilateral cooperation, particular with the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, which the representative said "will pave the way for more comprehensive economic cooperation."

There are many opportunities for Azerbaijani companies seeking to enter the vast Chinese market, and vice versa, he said, noting the strong relationship between our countries creates many opportunities in various industries where companies from both sides can benefit.

For example, Chinese automaker BYD won the bid and signed an agreement to establish a joint venture company and set up an electric bus production line in Azerbaijan last year. The country is also planning to gradually replace fuel buses with electric ones in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, highlighting another potential for deepening cooperation with Chinese companies in the field, according to the trade representative.

Another area for deeper cooperation is trade. According to Nadiroghlu, "right now, we have seven trade houses in six very important cities across China, through which we aim to expand our sales channels, which is not only about Azerbaijani exports to China, but also about bringing investments from China."

The positive trade figure exemplified growing economic cooperation between the two countries. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached $2.465 billion, marking a 43.2 percent year-on-year, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

There are various industries where the two sides are highly complementary, ranging from new energy to the localization of manufacturing, Nadiroghlu said.

"We are witnessing more visits by Chinese companies and government officials to Azerbaijan in recent years as well, which will undoubtedly have a very positive impact on overall economic cooperation between our countries," he said.

Moreover, the recent signing of a visa exemption agreement will further facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries, particular between businesses, and promote the in-depth development of the China-Azerbaijan comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the trade envoy.

Among all areas of cooperation, joint participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offers significant advantages for Azerbaijan, a transcontinental and landlocked country, to further expand its economic and trade links.

Azerbaijan was one of the first countries and active player in the joint construction of the BRI. Since China and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt during a presidential visit to China in 2015, "we have supported this very important initiative not only in words but also in deeds," the Azerbaijani envoy said.

Nadiroghlu noted that "the BRI has greatly benefited us in many ways, just as it has benefited other countries along the route, especially in terms of infrastructure investments, transportation, green energy and the opening of the Chinese market to our exporters and producers."

Looking ahead, he said that Azerbaijan now plays a crucial role in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, an important transportation juncture for BRI partner countries, which has made Azerbaijan an important logistical hub in the region.

"However, our aim is not only to become a logistical hub but also to serve as a trading and manufacturing hub for companies from China and beyond," he said.

AzVision.az

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