POLITICS
Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament meets with Chairman of Standing Committee of National People’s Congress of China
As part of her working visit to China, Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, met with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China.
Zhao Leji thanked Sahiba Gafarova for her visit and participation in the Boao Forum for Asia. He said that the visit of the Speaker of the Milli Majlis to China to participate in the Forum is a testament to the importance Azerbaijan attaches to bilateral relations, as well as to Azerbaijan’s support for the Forum.
Praising the development of friendly relations between the two countries, which are rooted in deep historical foundations and built on a solid base, and serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples, Chairman of the Standing Committee Zhao Leji stated that bilateral relations have invariably been distinguished by mutual respect and support throughout the 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China.
Zhao Leji said the relations between the two countries have risen to the level of strategic partnership in recent years under the wise leadership of the two Presidents.
Noting that the two meetings of the Leaders of Azerbaijan and China had taken place last year, Zhao Leji expressed the intention of the National People's Congress to work jointly with the parliament of Azerbaijan towards supporting this activity of the heads of state and adding new aspects to the bilateral relations.
Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova expressed her appreciation for the generous hospitality and kind words about Azerbaijan, recalling fondly her previous meetings with Zhao Leji on the sidelines of the international events held in various countries. Saying that this visit is her first to China in her capacity of Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova expressed confidence that the visit would contribute to the further expansion of relations between the two countries’ parliaments and to an increase in the number of reciprocal visits.
Noting that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis stressed that the relations between the two countries have always been built on the basis of friendship, mutual respect and mutual support, and that Azerbaijani-Chinese cooperation continues to expand across many areas today.
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova emphasized that the relations between the two countries have entered a new phase in recent times and that President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to the strengthening of the cooperation between the two countries. Attention was drawn to the important role of the sincere relations, mutual respect and trust between the Leaders of the two countries in the advancement of the partnership. She recalled President Ilham Aliyev's visits to China in 2025 and the signing of the Joint Statement on the Establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the state visit in April of last year.
The sides expressed their mutual support in matters of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova reiterated Azerbaijan’s consistent and firm support of the One China policy, adding that China has unwaveringly supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Zhao Leji mentioned that he greatly values Azerbaijan's support for the One China policy, China's stance on Taiwan and on the autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Xinjiang-Uyghur, as well as the statements made in this regard. He also expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for facilitating the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Iran.
According to Zhao Leji, Azerbaijan’s international role is continuously increasing. He expressed China’s intention to broaden the support for Azerbaijan and coordination internationally. China’s secondment of Azerbaijan’s membership in the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia was highlighted as well.
During the meeting, the sides also discussed humanitarian and cultural cooperation issues, stating that the ties in this field brought the two peoples closer together.
The Speaker of the Milli Majlis highlighted the cultural projects that are being successfully implemented between the two countries, and hailed the collaboration between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The conversation also addressed the inter-parliamentary cooperation, while both parties acknowledged that the ties in this area occupy an important place in the deepening of the bilateral relations.
During the conversation, both sides stressed the importance of expanding ties further and intensifying the contacts in the future, also reviewing the possibilities of developing institutional ties between the committees of the legislative bodies and of broadening cooperation across various areas.
Zhao Leji highlighted the outcomes of the 14th Session of the National People's Congress and the decisions adopted thereat, as well as the socio-economic achievements attained by China.
