Xi Jinping: China and Azerbaijan should increase trade and optimize its structure

Baku/16.09.22/Turan: China and Azerbaijan need to take measures to increase the volume of bilateral trade and optimize its structure, trhe Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand.

"The two sides need to increase the volume of trade, optimize its structure, increase the volume of China-Europe freight train traffic and ensure the continuity of international supply chains," TASS reports citing the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"China also welcomes the expansion of Azerbaijan's cooperation with the SCO to jointly ensure regional security and stability, development and prosperity," the Chinese leader said. Xi Jinping also stressed that China and Azerbaijan need to intensify humanitarian exchanges.

In turn, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and China are true strategic partners, and both sides maintain close ties in international affairs, and bilateral cooperation is steadily developing.

He noted that Azerbaijan adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports China in protecting national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, strongly opposes any action that leads to interference in China's internal affairs, and firmly supports Beijing in protecting its strategic interests.

The Azerbaijani side supports the global security initiative and the global development initiative proposed by China, and is ready to actively build the "One Belt, One Road" together with the Chinese side.—0—