Baku, April 2nd—Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, met here today with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC). 

Asadov said, Azerbaijan-China friendship enjoys a profound historical foundation. Last year, President Ilham Aliyev and President Xi Jinping jointly upgraded bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, which was a historic event in the development of bilateral relations. Under the guidance of the two heads of state, the exchanges and cooperation between Azerbaijan and China in various fields and at all levels have been flourishing. As one of the first countries to support and respond to the Belt and Road cooperation, Azerbaijan is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in such fields as trade, investment, logistics, high-tech, digital economy, green energy, climate change, culture, tourism and localities to enhance the well-being and friendship of the two peoples. Azerbaijan welcomes Chinese enterprises to increase investment in the construction of the Middle Corridor. The New Azerbaijan Party maintains friendly relations with the CPC and has played an important role in promoting the development of bilateral relations. Azerbaijan supports the two Parties in further strengthening exchanges within the framework of the memorandum of exchange and cooperation so as to better promote bilateral friendly cooperation. The two countries have maintained close cooperation on the international stage and firmly supported each other on issues concerning respective core interests such as safeguarding respective national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Azerbaijan firmly adheres to the one-China principle. 

Liu said, since the establishment of diplomatic relations 33 years ago, bilateral relations have become more and more mature, political mutual trust has been continuously consolidated, mutually beneficial cooperation has yielded fruitful results and demonstrated great potential for development. In July last year, President Xi Jinping and President Ilham Aliyev jointly established China-Azerbaijan relations as a strategic partnership, drawing a new blueprint and injecting new impetus into bilateral relations. China is ready to work with Azerbaijan to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, further synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-economic Development, deepen cooperation in emerging areas such as high-tech, digital economy, information and communication, and bring China-Azerbaijan practical cooperation to a higher level. 

Liu said, both the CPC and the New Azerbaijan Party play an important leading role in the development of respective national causes. The two Parties should take the opportunity of the signing of the memorandum of exchange and cooperation last year to give full play to the political leading role of ruling parties, strengthen the synergizing of development strategies, deepen exchanges of experience in state governance and administration, promote capacity building, and build bridges for bilateral cooperation in various fields through the "political party +" channel, so as to jointly push for the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. As the international situation is undergoing complex and profound changes, China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Azerbaijan in international and regional affairs, join hands to address global challenges and play a constructive role in promoting regional peace, stability and development. Liu also introduced China's measures to further deepen reform comprehensively and the current key work arrangements. 

Shahin Abdulla oglu Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Rufat Mammadov, Head of Office of the Cabinet of ministers, Tahir Budagov, Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and Head of the Central Office, and others were present.