Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A joint statement by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of a strategic partnership

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties") agree that since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 2 April 1992, the two sides have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields.

Against the backdrop of profound and complex changes in the current international and regional situation, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields between the two countries, strengthen international cooperation, jointly safeguard the common interests of the two countries, and jointly promote regional and world peace, stability and development.

One

1. The two sides shall establish a strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and trust, mutual support and win-win cooperation. We regard each other as priority and reliable partners, independently decide on the guidelines and policies of bilateral relations, and do not change them due to external factors.

2. The two sides reaffirmed mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The Azerbaijani side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, recognizes that there is only one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, opposes any form of "Taiwan independence," and supports the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the efforts made by the Chinese Government to realize national reunification. China firmly supports the peace agenda put forward by the Arab side and believes that geopolitical attempts aimed at supporting confrontation will be counterproductive.

3. The two sides stressed that terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a serious threat to the entire international community and require joint efforts to prevent and respond to these challenges.

4. The two sides will continue to firmly support each other in pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions, and are willing to cooperate to achieve common development and prosperity.

5. The two sides are willing to maintain close communication and cooperation on major national security, regional and global security issues, consolidate trust, and never allow any force to use its territory to engage in activities against the other side.

6. The two sides stressed that exchanges and cooperation between China-Arab political and social organizations are conducive to advancing and deepening state-to-state relations in all aspects. The two sides support the strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between the CPC and the ruling party of Azerbaijan.

7. The two sides noted that cooperation between the legislatures of China and Azerbaijan is of great significance to expanding and advancing bilateral relations. In view of this, the two sides stressed the need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries in various fields and at all levels, including exchanges and cooperation in international and regional organizations.

8. The two sides believe that it is necessary to strengthen institutional exchanges and communication between the two governments and strengthen political dialogue on development issues.

9. The two sides reaffirmed their willingness to strengthen the exchange of experience and cooperation in the legal field on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.

10. The two sides will not take any action that undermines the strategic partnership between the two countries.

11. The two sides may negotiate and hold regular consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.

Two

1. The two sides spoke highly of the sustained and stable development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, and are willing to continue to play the role of the mechanism of the Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation, further strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and project contracting, and focus on promoting the implementation of projects in the fields of connectivity, green energy, processing and manufacturing, infrastructure, digital economy and agriculture, so as to achieve high-quality development of China-Arab economic and trade cooperation.

(2) The economies of China and Argentina are highly complementary and have great potential for industrial and investment cooperation. The two sides will give full play to the role of the working mechanism of China-Arab industry and investment cooperation, strengthen the alignment of vision, planning and policies, provide assistance to enterprises of both sides, and actively promote cooperation in key areas such as energy (including oil and gas exploration and processing, green energy), transportation infrastructure, information and communication, digital economy, non-ferrous metals, and building materials in accordance with market-oriented principles, so as to add tangible results to practical cooperation between the two countries and benefit the two countries and peoples.

3. The two sides are willing to further expand the scale of bilateral trade, optimize the commodity mix, and promote market access. China welcomes the Arab side to actively participate in major exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, and the China International Fair for Trade in Services. The Azerbaijan side welcomes the participation of advanced Chinese enterprises in the Azerbaijan International Defense Industry Exhibition (ADEX) and other large-scale exhibitions and forums held in Azerbaijan. China supports the Arab side in making use of the trade centers and national pavilions opened in China and China's e-commerce platforms to carry out thematic promotion and matchmaking activities.

4. The two sides are willing to strengthen the synergy between the development strategies of the two countries, deepen practical cooperation in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and accelerate the negotiation and signing of the international multimodal transport agreement between the governments of the two countries.

5. The Parties will support each other's efforts to ensure the safety and smooth passage of international transport corridors through their territories and are ready to create favorable conditions for transit traffic within the framework of their national laws and bilateral agreements.

6. The two sides are committed to tapping the potential of transit transport through the use of intelligent transport system technology and providing economic and technical support for the sustainable and comprehensive operation of international transport corridors.

7. The two sides support the establishment of an investment cooperation working group within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation, and support domestic enterprises to invest and set up businesses in each other's countries and to settle in each other's free economic zones and industrial parks. China welcomes Azerbaijan's investment cooperation with China in the fields of oil and gas, petrochemical and green energy, electric power, high-tech, artificial intelligence and aerospace. The two sides are willing to create good conditions and provide necessary convenience for enterprises of the two countries. The two sides are willing to work together to ensure the safety of the personnel of the cooperation projects and enterprises of the two countries.

8. China is willing to actively participate in the construction and development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor ("CIC") and work more closely with Azerbaijan and other countries along the route to jointly promote the smooth operation and accelerated development of the South Corridor of the China-Europe Railway Express, create favorable conditions for deepening practical cooperation among countries in the region, and jointly safeguard the security and stability of industrial and supply chains.

9. China welcomes the Arab side to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29) and supports the Arab side in playing the role of the presidency and promoting positive outcomes of the conference. The two sides are willing to cooperate on addressing global climate change, including strengthening cooperation in the field of clean energy, encouraging enterprises of the two countries to deepen cooperation in green and low-carbon fields such as new energy power generation, energy storage, new energy vehicles, power transmission, energy conservation and emission reduction, and jointly promote the building of a global clean energy partnership.

Three

1. The two sides are willing to explore ways to improve the legal basis of treaties in the economic and trade fields, and actively explore the establishment of institutional arrangements for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. The two sides reaffirmed their firm support for the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and China supports the Arab side's active participation in the construction and cooperation of the international multilateral trading system and the actions taken by the Arab side to join the WTO.

2. The two sides support the expansion of local exchanges and the strengthening of cooperation in the field of media and information.

3. The two sides are willing to actively promote the progress of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of science and technology.

4. The two sides believe that China-Arab educational exchanges and cooperation are progressing steadily. Under the framework of the education cooperation agreement and the mutual recognition of academic qualifications, the two sides will carry out personnel exchange, language exchange and university cooperation, and will explore the establishment of a university alliance in the future.

5. The two sides attach importance to language exchanges and cooperation, encourage schools of both sides to carry out Chinese and Azerbaijani language teaching, strengthen language teacher exchanges and training, and support the construction of Confucius Institutes.

6. The two sides agreed to raise the level of cooperation in the field of culture, hold cultural days for each other, and are willing to hold consultations on the establishment of cultural centers for each other.

7. The two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in the field of tourism and promote the common development of the tourism industry. China welcomes the Arab side's participation in the annual China International Tourism Mart and other tourism exhibitions, and the Arab side's decision to implement a one-year unilateral visa-free policy for Chinese citizens with a view to developing tourism and further expanding economic, people-to-people and cultural ties between the two countries. The two sides will further promote the facilitation of personnel exchanges.

8. The two sides are willing to deepen cooperation in the fields of health, sports and youth, and strengthen exchanges in the fields of film, media and think tanks.

9. The two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation in the field of sustainable development.

10. The two sides are willing to strengthen exchanges in promoting high-quality and full employment, improving the social security system, and cultivating skilled talents, so as to enhance people's livelihood and well-being.

Four

1. The two sides are willing to cooperate on major international issues and deepen constructive cooperation on issues of common concern at the bilateral level, as well as within the framework of international organizations and forums.

2. The two sides are committed to upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and opposing hegemonism and power politics. The two sides uphold true multilateralism, support the United Nations in playing an active role in international affairs, and are willing to continue to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the United Nations. The two sides stand for promoting the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and a new type of international relations.

3. China and the Arab States are both developing countries, and the two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

4. The two sides believe that the people's happy life is the greatest human right, and the development of human rights should adhere to the people-centered approach. The two sides believe that the protection of human rights should be based on the firm principle of respecting the sovereignty of all countries, and that all countries should oppose politicization and double standards on the human rights issue. The two sides oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues, advocate safeguarding human rights through security, promoting human rights through development, and advancing human rights through cooperation and dialogue, and jointly promote the development of the global human rights mechanism in a more fair, just, reasonable and inclusive direction.

5. The Arab side supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, and is ready to actively participate in the Initiative and cooperate to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and jointly safeguard international and regional security and stability. China supports the efforts of the Arab side to promote the Baku Process initiative and the holding of a global forum within the framework of the initiative, which is an important global platform for encouraging intercultural dialogue.

6. China welcomes the strengthening of cooperation between the Arab side and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and supports the Arab side in enhancing its legal status in the SCO. The Arab side has expressed its willingness to join the BRICS, and China welcomes the participation of the Arab side in BRICS cooperation.

3 July 2024 (End)