China and Azerbaijan Hold 10th Intergovernmental Economic and Trade Cooperation Meeting in Baku

On April 16, China and Azerbaijan convened the 10th session of the China-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation in Baku. The meeting was co-chaired by Ling Ji, China's Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy International Trade Representative, and Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan.

Vice Minister Ling noted that in 2024, President Xi Jinping and President Ilham Aliyev elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, charting a clear course for deeper economic cooperation. He highlighted the solid progress in trade, investment, and connectivity, emphasizing both sides' commitment to expanding trade volumes and advancing green, digital, and smart transformation in commerce. Ling also called for deeper investment and infrastructure cooperation, urging high-quality collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Ling reaffirmed China's firm support for Azerbaijan's accession to the World Trade Organization, adding that both sides should work together to uphold a rules-based multilateral trading system and jointly oppose protectionism, unilateralism, and economic coercion. He underscored that stable and healthy bilateral cooperation will bring greater certainty to regional economic integration and shared prosperity.

Deputy Prime Minister Mustafayev expressed Azerbaijan's strong interest in strengthening ties with China, as prioritized by President Aliyev. He affirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to increasing exports of high-quality, specialty products to China and expanding imports of Chinese green and low-carbon technologies. Mustafayev also emphasized the importance of enhancing mutual investment, advancing cooperation in new energy sectors, and jointly tapping the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. He thanked China for supporting Azerbaijan's WTO accession and pledged to work with China in safeguarding a fair, just, and mutually beneficial multilateral trade system.

Following the meeting, both sides signed the meeting minutes and a Memorandum of Understanding between China's Ministry of Commerce and Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy on establishing an Investment Cooperation Working Group.