Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed Zhang Guoqing, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, highlighting the strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and China. The meeting, which took place on May 18, underscored the mutual respect and strategic cooperation shared by the two nations.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Zhang Guoqing conveyed the greetings of Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, to President Aliyev, stating that President Xi considers Aliyev a friend of China. President Aliyev expressed gratitude for these warm sentiments and reciprocated with his greetings to President Xi, appreciating the Chinese President's view of him as a permanent friend.

Zhang Guoqing mentioned the ongoing 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) and expressed his honor to participate in the event, which Azerbaijan is hosting. He congratulated President Aliyev on hosting such a prestigious event and commended his substantive speech at the opening ceremony. President Aliyev thanked him for the congratulations and noted China's high-level delegation's presence as a sign of respect and friendship toward Azerbaijan.

The Vice Premier acknowledged the rapid growth of Azerbaijan-China relations, recalling previous meetings between their leaders and recognizing the bilateral ties as a comprehensive strategic partnership. He thanked Azerbaijan for its firm stance on China's Taiwan province and noted China's support for Azerbaijan's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

President Aliyev reminisced about his state visit to China and the hospitality he received, emphasizing the significance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership document signed during that visit. He reiterated Azerbaijan's opposition to separatism, condemning the illegal elections in Taiwan and affirming support for the 'One China' policy.

The discussions highlighted the successful development of relations across various fields, including political, economic, and trade cooperation. Both sides praised the collaboration between the New Azerbaijan Party and the Communist Party of China and their cooperation within international organizations. They discussed future prospects for cooperation in transit, transport, cargo transportation, military-technical partnership, and other areas.