Azerbaijan, China sign strategic partnership declaration and visa waiver agreement
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of The People in Beijing on April 23, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Azerbaijan and China signed a declaration to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to a mutual visa waiver during President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to China, Azerbaijan’s presidential office announced on Wednesday.
Official welcome ceremony was held for President Ilham Aliyev in Beijing.https://t.co/vDLws7pubD pic.twitter.com/9WqIILjqcZ
— Ilham Aliyev (@presidentaz) April 23, 2025
Following a high-level meeting between President Aliyev and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders signed the “Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China.”
Joint support for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace diplomacy
The declaration emphasized both sides’ commitment to supporting each other’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
Azerbaijan reaffirmed its support for the “One China” policy and its opposition to Taiwan’s independence. In return, China expressed strong backing for Azerbaijan’s peace agenda with Armenia.
The statement also underlined the alignment of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” with Azerbaijan’s “Restoration of the Silk Road” state strategy and 2030 Socio-Economic Development Strategy, aiming to create a high-resilience, long-term cooperation framework.
Strengthening trade, energy, and investment ties
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, green energy, and the digital economy. They committed to establishing a Joint Working Group on Investment Cooperation and expanding mutual market access for eco-friendly and high-quality agricultural products.
Negotiations for a potential free trade agreement were proposed to ensure high-level institutional guarantees in economic collaboration.
The declaration also included plans to deepen cooperation in industrial development and digital transformation, specifically in petrochemicals, metallurgy, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.
In the renewable energy sector, both countries pledged to build a global clean energy partnership and to jointly support sustainable socio-economic development.
Transport and connectivity: Focus on Caspian Corridor
China expressed readiness to cooperate with Azerbaijan and other corridor nations on the Caspian Sea-crossing China-Europe-China express route.
The declaration highlighted mutual interest in improving conditions for automobile transportation and facilitating broader bilateral economic cooperation.
Visa-free travel and broader agreements signed
During the visit, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for passport holders from both countries at a ceremony attended by President Xi.
Additional agreements were signed across multiple sectors, including
- Mine clearance
- Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters
- Technical and economic cooperation
- Science and technology
- Justice, culture, copyright, transport, trade, media, and communications
Nahcivan, Urumqi become sister cities
As part of the diplomatic engagements, a memorandum of understanding was signed establishing a sister city relationship between Nahcivan in the Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan and Urumqi in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
