Beijing (TDI): Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, have agreed to boost security cooperation between the two countries. Both leaders also signed mutual visa exemption agreements.
The agreements came during President Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with the Chinese Premier in Beijing. The agreements were signed in the spirit of strengthening defense and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people contacts.
On the occasion, President Xi Jinping said that providing “Mutual firm support on issues affecting each other’s core interests is a good tradition of Chinese-Azerbaijani relations, as well as an integral part of the strategic partnership.”
President Xi Jinping held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev @presidentaz.
The two Presidents announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan.
President Xi noted that tariff and trade wars harm the legitimate rights… pic.twitter.com/PByT7x4REp
— Mao Ning 毛宁 (@SpoxCHN_MaoNing) April 23, 2025
“China supports Azerbaijan’s efforts to protect national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as to continue the development path that suits the country’s national characteristics. We are ready to deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of law and order and security and resolutely combat the “three evil forces” (terrorism, extremism, and separatism),” he said.
The mutual visa exemption agreements signed between the two countries would facilitate the passport holders in both countries. These agreements would take effect after China and Azerbaijan implement necessary procedures.
In the past two years, China has eased visa restrictions for several countries, as well as expanded unilateral visa-free access to tourists from 38 countries, allowing them to stay in China for up to 30 days.
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Talking about trade restrictions, President Xi Jinping warned that tariffs and trade wars undermine the global economic system and damage the legitimate interests of states.
“China is ready to work with the Azerbaijan side to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core… and safeguard international fairness and justice,” he said.
Both leaders also signed 20 agreements under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to ensure collaboration in green development, aerospace, digital economy, intellectual property, and legal cooperation.
It is important to note that Azerbaijan has been one of the earliest supporters of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), when it was first launched in 2013.
Javaria Khalid is a writer and researcher, who specializes in Pakistan's Foreign Policy Analysis, transatlantic geopolitics, and Pakistan’s relations with the European countries and the EU. She can be reached at javariakhalid011@outlook.com
