Baku, April 17, 2025 — The Europe Today: The 10th meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation took place in Baku on Wednesday, co-chaired by Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, and Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Mustafayev emphasized the importance of the meeting as a platform for reviewing the implementation of directives from the heads of state and discussing the future trajectory of Azerbaijan-China relations. He noted that the political will of President Ilham Aliyev and President Xi Jinping had propelled bilateral ties to new heights, highlighted by the Joint Declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership, signed by both presidents last year.
Mustafayev outlined the steady growth in trade and economic cooperation, with China remaining one of Azerbaijan’s key partners. He revealed that bilateral trade turnover increased by 21 percent in 2024, reaching approximately $3.7 billion, and that the first quarter of this year saw a 37 percent increase, surpassing $1 billion. Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to expanding agricultural and food product exports to China.
The meeting also focused on investment cooperation, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, green energy, high technologies, and space. Chinese investments in Azerbaijan have reached nearly $942 million, while Azerbaijani investments in China, including those from the State Oil Fund, total about $2.1 billion. As part of President Aliyev’s upcoming visit to China, a joint project to localize electric bus production in collaboration with Chinese company BYD will be launched.
Azerbaijan’s significant potential in green energy was identified as a key area for collaboration, with both sides emphasizing the strategic importance of leveraging Azerbaijan’s resources and China’s advanced technological capabilities.
Progress in the transport and transit sectors was also discussed, with a notable 86 percent increase in transit shipments between Azerbaijan and China last year. The Baku International Sea Trade Port and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway were highlighted as critical infrastructure that provides the most efficient route between China and Europe.
The delegation was briefed on the favorable investment climate in Azerbaijan’s recently liberated territories, with Mustafayev inviting Chinese companies to explore opportunities in these regions. The development of the Zangezur corridor was identified as crucial for peace, security, and enhancing the Belt and Road Initiative.
Ling Ji reaffirmed China’s support for Azerbaijan’s bid to join the World Trade Organization and expressed interest in boosting mutual investments and trade. He proposed the establishment of more Azerbaijani trading houses in China and expressed a desire for further collaboration in various fields, including information technology, space industry, healthcare, and tourism.
Tourism was also discussed, with both sides noting a significant increase in mutual tourist flows, particularly due to Azerbaijan’s decision to waive visa requirements for Chinese citizens. A bilateral agreement on mutual visa-free travel is expected to be signed during the upcoming presidential visit.
The meeting concluded with the signing of an Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Investment Cooperation Working Group and the Protocol of the 10th Meeting of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission. This working group will serve as a key platform for addressing investment-related matters and fostering further bilateral cooperation.
