INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday.Li said that
since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, China and Azerbaijan have always respected each other and treated each other
as equals, fostering deep friendship and trust
Pragmatic cooperation has continually deepened, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.Li noted that earlier Wednesday, the
presidents of the two countries announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, thereby
opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to further promote traditional friendship, enhance
strategic mutual trust, firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests, and advance bilateral cooperation to a larger scale, wider
fields and higher levels, he added.Li noted that China is willing to enhance the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Azerbaijan's
development strategies, and jointly advance the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and establish a safe and
stable China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express.He also expressed China's willingness to deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan in emerging fields
such as green energy, digital technology and the digital economy, promote sustained optimization and development of trade, and create more
new mutually beneficial opportunities.The two sides should further strengthen people-to-people exchanges, explore cooperation potentials in
areas such as culture, tourism and education, and promote mutual understanding among their peoples, Li added.Noting that unilateralism and
protectionism are on the rise, exacerbating the risks of a global economic recession, Li said China is willing to continue strengthening
communication and coordination with Azerbaijan within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, effectively implementing the three
major global initiatives, and jointly advocating for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive
economic globalization.Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely opposes and condemns "Taiwan
independence," expressing a willingness to continue providing mutual support with China on issues concerning each other's core interests and
major concerns.Azerbaijan looks forward to working with China to enhance high-level exchanges, continuously expand bilateral trade and
investment, develop mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as transportation and logistics, connectivity, energy, agriculture and
tourism, and further facilitate personnel exchanges, so as to continuously enrich the connotation of the comprehensive strategic partnership
between the two countries, Aliyev said.Azerbaijan highly appreciates China's significant role in international affairs, supports the three
major global initiatives, and is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with China within multilateral frameworks to maintain
regional peace and stability, uphold the international system centered on the United Nations, and promote international fairness and
