The President of Azerbaijan’s visit to the People’s Republic of China once again demonstrated that Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is formed based on the national interests of the country, political scientist Teymur Atayev told APA.
The Azerbaijan–China strategic partnership founded by Heydar Aliyev
According to the political scientist, the strong foundations of China-Azerbaijan relations were laid by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, and these relations continue to develop successfully today as a result of President Ilham Aliyev’s policies.
“However, all kinds of geopolitical events – for example, this state visit and the documents signed within its framework, as well as the statements made by the heads of states – Mr. Xi Jinping and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev – show that all of this must have a foundation. And this foundation was laid by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. He visited the People’s Republic of China back in 1994. It was during that visit that he called the Chinese people a great people and the People’s Republic of China a great state. The bilateral relations established during that period are still being developed today as a result of the policy pursued by the head of state. This is not the first time. On a global scale, we frequently observe how deep and comprehensive President Ilham Aliyev’s interviews given to Chinese television channels – that is, Chinese information sources, including television channels and, for instance, the Xinhua agency – really are. This is not only about bilateral relations, but also about the assessment of global geopolitics as a whole. In this regard, Azerbaijan–China relations are being analyzed in depth. Because here, it is not only about bilateral ties, but also about the formation of a new world order. This process is evaluated from the perspective of both the strengthening of bilateral relations and Azerbaijan's being recognized today as a 'middle power.' In this sense, Azerbaijan is already going beyond this definition – that is, it is not just a regional state, but an actor that transcends the boundaries of the cosmic region and the broader Central Asia,” Teymur Atayev added.
Cultural bridges and common values: Azerbaijan–China humanitarian cooperation
The political scientist who touched on the issue of culture stated that the culture of the Chinese people is presented in Azerbaijan through the Confucius Institute: "This is not just about strategic partnership. It is also about cultural-humanitarian bridges. Because issues such as education and the mutual exchange of students are widely discussed. On the other hand, the issue of visa-free travel shows that the tourism sector will develop and people will get to know each other more closely. Additionally, it should be noted that China and Azerbaijan are countries that always set goals towards the establishment of a community with a shared future for mankind. The policy of multiculturalism has always been characteristic of Azerbaijan, and this policy is an integral part of our society. This aligns with the concept of the 'community with a shared future for mankind' that Mr. Xi Jinping constantly emphasizes when addressing the international community. This means that our partnership is not directed against any side—instead, it is intended for the construction, common goals, peace, non-interference principles, and cooperation to strengthen the peace, security, and stability of states."
Middle Corridor: The route of peace and cooperation through Azerbaijan
The political scientist noted that this cooperation can be implemented both in our region and beyond: "In the meantime, the important role played by Azerbaijan in the Middle Corridor – that is, its coordinating position between China and Europe – demonstrates that countries can coexist peacefully along this logistical route. This corridor brings together representatives of various nations, religions, and even different geopolitical currents. For example, Hungary is a member of both the European Union and NATO, and at the same time, it is an observer in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The same can be said about Georgia. Currently, we observe that this direction is not only providing access to Central Asia, but also to the Middle East and other Asian regions."
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