1st LD-Writethru: China, Azerbaijan establish comprehensive strategic partnership

BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Beijing on Wednesday.

The two leaders announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Both sides should continuously enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and strengthen international collaboration to open a new chapter of all-round cooperation, Xi said.

He added that China supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in continuing to follow a development path that suits its national conditions.

China is willing to carry out in-depth law enforcement and security cooperation with Azerbaijan to resolutely combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, Xi said.

He called on both sides to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and encourage educational, cultural, tourism, youth and sub-national cooperation.

Xi said tariff and trade wars undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, hurt the multilateral trading system, and impact the world economic order.

China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, firmly protect their respective legitimate rights and interests, and defend international fairness and justice, he said.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan and China have always respected and trusted each other in the face of changes unseen in a century, with bilateral cooperation continuously deepened, economic and trade relations developing rapidly, and local exchanges becoming closer.

He added that Azerbaijan firmly abides by the one-China principle, insists that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.

The concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi are conducive to world peace, stability and prosperity, Aliyev said, adding that Azerbaijan highly appreciates and actively supports them.

Azerbaijan stands ready to work with China to promote the building of a comprehensive strategic partnership, expand cooperation concerning the Belt and Road Initiative, digital economy, green energy and science and technology, deepen exchanges between political parties and people of the two countries, and strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs, Aliyev said.

After the talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and witnessed the signing of 20 documents on cooperation in areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, justice, green development, digital economy, intellectual property rights and aerospace.

Prior to the talks, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for Aliyev and his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People.

Xi and Peng also hosted a welcoming banquet for Aliyev and Aliyeva in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People at noon on Wednesday. Enditem