The Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Bunyad Huseynov gives a speech at the Azerbaijan Investment and Trade Promotion Conference held at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing on April 23, 2024. Photo: Yin Yeping/GT
Azerbaijan hopes to attract more Chinese investors as the country is pursuing sustainable development and green transformation, as well as greater transport connectivity and other economic goals under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), officials from Azerbaijan said at the Azerbaijan Investment and Trade Promotion Conference held at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing on Tuesday.
Over a hundred representatives from relevant departments, enterprises, and industry groups from both China and Azerbaijan attended Tuesday’s promotional event, focusing on areas including mining, agriculture, tourism, logistics and transportation, showing the diverse bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Bunyad Huseynov said that Azerbaijan is China’s biggest trading partner in the South Caucasus and his country attaches great importance to the expansion of economic and trade relations with China.
The two countries are diversifying economic cooperation to various sectors including transport and logistics, agriculture, and other areas. “China's advanced experience and technologies in the field of alternative energy are of particular interest to our country,” the ambassador said.
Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support the BRI, which has become a key driver of economic and trade development not just with China but beyond. This joint initiative is not only an economic and communication project, but also stimulates the global economy by expanding relations between peoples, improving infrastructure, deepening trade relations, and strengthening transport and infrastructure projects, the ambassador said at the event.
Azerbaijan, located at the vibrant crossroads of Europe and Asia, offers numerous investment opportunities across various sectors, Zohrab Gadirov, deputy executive director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO), said at the event. More Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Azerbaijan for a win-win outcome, Gadirov said.
During his trip to China, Gadirov is hoping to build closer ties with Chinese businesses, as they are becoming increasingly important in the country's economic development.
According to data from Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee, China-Azerbaijan bilateral trade reached $3.1 billion in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 43.5 percent, with both imports and exports seeing double-digit growth. China remained Azerbaijan's fourth largest trading partner.
China also became Azerbaijan's second-largest source of imports for the first time, ahead of Turkey, and accounting for 17.5 percent of the country's total imports.
In addition to the surging demand for goods between China and Azerbaijan, the country's strategic geographical location also positions it as a critical transportation hub for the China-Europe freight train. The demand for the cargo train has seen a significant increase thanks to its competitive advantages as a reliable transportation tool, particularly following the Red Sea crisis, which resulted in a substantial extension of transportation time and costs for sea voyages.
Azerbaijan plays a crucial role in the trans-Caspian international transportation corridor, serving as a dynamic new market at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It's not only a vital node in the BRI but also a significant gateway for Chinese enterprises to access the markets of the Caucasus and the EU, said He Zhenwei, head of the China Overseas Development Association.
Since the beginning of this year, China has been the largest source of imports for Azerbaijan for two consecutive months, reflecting strong development momentum, according to He.
There is still room for further growth in trade between the two countries, He said.
阿塞拜疆官员周二在阿塞拜疆驻北京大使馆举行的阿塞拜疆投资和贸易促进会议上表示，阿塞拜疆正追求可持续发展和绿色转型，以及中国提出的“一带一路”倡议（BRI）下更大的交通连通性和其他经济目标，因此，阿塞拜疆希望能够吸引更多的中国投资者。
本周二，来自中阿两国相关部门、企业和行业团体的一百多名代表出席了推介会。本次推介会重点关注矿业、农业、旅游、物流和运输等领域，展示了两国之间多样化的双边合作。
阿塞拜疆驻华大使拉蒂夫•侯赛诺夫先生在会上表示，阿塞拜疆是中国在南高加索地区最大的贸易伙伴，阿塞拜疆高度重视扩大与中国的经贸关系。
两国正在将经济合作多样化，包括运输和物流、农业和其他领域。“中国在替代能源领域的先进经验和技术令我国特别感兴趣，”大使侯赛诺夫说。
阿塞拜疆是最早支持“一带一路”倡议的国家之一。“一带一路”倡议已成为与中国乃至其他国家经贸发展的关键驱动力。大使在活动中表示，这一联合倡议不仅是一个经济和通信项目，而且还能够通过扩大各国人民之间的关系、改善基础设施、深化贸易关系以及加强交通和基础设施项目，来刺激全球经济。
阿塞拜疆位于欧洲和亚洲充满活力的十字路口，在各个领域提供了众多投资机会，阿塞拜疆出口和投资促进局（AZPROMO）副执行主任佐赫拉布·加迪罗夫（Zohrab Gadirov）在活动中表示。加迪罗夫说，欢迎更多的中国企业在阿塞拜疆投资，以实现双赢。
在访华期间，加迪罗夫表示，中国企业在阿塞拜疆的经济发展中变得越来越重要，希望能与中国企业建立更紧密的联系。
根据阿塞拜疆国家海关委员会的数据，2023年中阿双边贸易额达到31亿美元，同比增长43.5%，进出口双双增长。中国仍然是阿塞拜疆的第四大贸易伙伴。
中国也首次成为阿塞拜疆的第二大进口来源国，超过土耳其，占阿塞拜疆进口总额的17.5%。
除了中国和阿塞拜疆之间的货物需求激增外，该国的战略地理位置也使其成为中欧货运列车的重要运输枢纽。由于货运列车的运输方式具有稳定可靠的竞争优势，对货运列车的需求显着增加，尤其是在红海危机之后，这导致了海上航行的运输时间大幅延长和成本的上升。
阿塞拜疆在跨里海国际运输中发挥着至关重要的作用，是欧洲和亚洲十字路口的一个充满活力的新市场。中国海外发展协会会长何振伟表示，中国不仅是“一带一路”倡议的重要节点，也是中国企业进入高加索和欧盟市场的重要门户，自今年年初以来，中国连续两个月成为阿塞拜疆最大的进口来源国，反映了其强劲的发展势头。何振伟认为，两国之间的贸易仍有进一步增长的空间。
