BAKU, Azerbaijan - The Middle Corridor, Chinese investment and renewable energy were at the center of talks between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Baku on Wednesday.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met Aliyev on October 14 during a series of high-level meetings ahead of the seventh summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, or CICA.
Aliyev said the relationship had entered a new phase following his state visit to China and the adoption of a joint statement on strategic partnership. Wang described China as a reliable, long-term partner and reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, according to the official account published by AZERTAC.
Transport and Investment
Aliyev pointed to the rapid development of the Middle Corridor and said Azerbaijan and China had broad opportunities to cooperate on the route. Wang emphasized Azerbaijan’s important position along the corridor.
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, connects China and other Asian markets with Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye. The route has gained importance as governments and businesses seek additional east-west trade options.
The two sides also discussed Chinese companies’ participation in investment projects in Azerbaijan and cooperation in renewable energy. No new agreement or investment amount was announced after the meeting.
Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for the “One China” policy and highlighted Baku’s backing for the Belt and Road Initiative. The two officials also discussed joint efforts against separatism, extremism and radicalism.
Broader Asian Diplomacy in Baku
Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva also met Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Their talks covered trade, transport and logistics, investment, tourism, renewable energy and the possibility of visa-free travel.
In separate meetings, Aliyev held talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. The discussions addressed bilateral ties and the agenda of the CICA summit, while the Sri Lankan meeting also covered trade, tourism and education.
Officials congratulated Azerbaijan on its CICA chairmanship and on hosting the summit. For Baku, the gathering has provided a platform to advance transport, investment and energy cooperation with several Asian partners.
Source: Vesti Baku; verified against AZERTAC.