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The digest covers China's political, diplomatic, economic and other activities in the South Caucasus region and relations between China and the South Caucasus countries. It relies on a wide variety of sources, including the Chinese media. It is worth noting that the Chinese media is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (according to the World Press Freedom Index China is nearly at the bottom of the list and ranks 177th out of 180 countries)
Read full publication: Xi Jinping to Ilham Aliyev: Mutual political trust is steadily deepening On April 2, News.az reported that the CCP's Chairman Xi Jinping sent a letter to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan. China and Azerbaijan are traditional partners of friendship and cooperation and the two countries' relations have been maintaining healthy and stable development dynamics, Xi said. "The mutual political trust is steadily deepening, the cooperation in all areas is actively advancing, both countries are interacting closely at regional and international levels," Xi Jinping wrote, also noting the two countries' mutual support and assistance since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chinese leader also said he attached great importance to the development of bilateral relations with Azerbaijan. On the anniversary, Xi noted that he was ready to make joint efforts with Aliyev "to achieve new accomplishments in China-Azerbaijan relations and cooperation in various fields".
Aliyev welcomes more Chinese companies in Azerbaijan's regained territories On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter to the CCP's Chairman Xi Jinping, News.Az reported on April 2. Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan and China had been interacting closely within the traditional route restored in a new format, noting the Silk Road. "Today, the high level of our political relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, transportation-logistics, telecommunication, humanitarian and other spheres are gratifying," Aliyev said. President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan's territories regained in the Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020 provided favorable environment for the diversification of cooperation between Azerbaijan and China: "We support the involvement of more Chinese companies in restoration and development works across the East Zangezur and Karabakh economic regions." Aliyev also noted that the two countries enjoyed "successful cooperation" within international organizations. "I believe that traditionally friendly Azerbaijan-China relations and our cooperation of mutual interest that rest on a solid foundation will continue to develop and expand," Azerbaijani President added.
Shipments via Georgia in the Middle Corridor increased On March 31, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Guram Guramishvili said that in 2021, the number of containers shipped to China or from China via Georgia through the Middle Corridor amounted to 10 094 TEU, which was 221.6% more than in 2020, Georgia's First Channel reported.
The Chinese Ambassador discusses the possibility of creating a Chinese-Azerbaijani "community of common future" On April 2, the Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min published an article "New harbors in the sea of cooperation, new chapters in the history of friendship" in Vzglyad. The Ambassador wrote that at a new starting point in history, they were ready to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to further deepen "political mutual trust and good-neighborly partnership, jointly use development opportunities, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen the traditional friendship and continuously raise bilateral relationships to new heights". Guo Min added that this would allow them to make a greater contribution to "strengthening peace, stability, prosperity and development in the region and around the world, and also join forces in a new era to create a Chinese-Azerbaijani community of a common future".
Azerbaijani Ambassador to China discusses Azerbaijan-China relations
Akram Zeynalli. Source: CGTN On April 2, Azerbaijani Ambassador to China Akram Zeynalli published an article in the Chinese state media website CGTN entitled "Friendship that has stood the test of time". While discussing Azerbaijan-China relations Zeynalli wrote that Azerbaijan attached special importance to bilateral ties with China and was interested in deepening and broadening these relations in all spheres. Zeynalli noted that they would actively cooperate with Chinese "friends" and businesses that were interested in getting involved in the restoration process and in the realization of new infrastructure projects in the regained territories of Azerbaijan. He also said that in the future Zangezur corridor would play an important role in terms of connectivity along the BRI route and bring "further opportunities for China and Azerbaijan to expand cooperation in transportation and logistics". Akram Zeynalli said that today, there were huge opportunities for Chinese companies to invest and work in Azerbaijan. It is worth noting that currently, the government of Azerbaijan is working on projects to revive Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions. On trade relations, the Ambassador announced that negotiations on opening new trade and wine houses in more regions of China were being held with relevant authorities, "so that we can have further access to more Chinese customers soon".
Disinformation about a Georgian laboratory in Chinese media The Chinese media continued to publish disinformation and conspiracy theories about Georgia's laboratory. On April 1, an article entitled "Beware! Devil may break out of US bio-labs" was published in Global Times. The article noted "Bulgarian journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva" citing "leaked documents in January 2022, through a Pentagon project named GG-21, the US gathered blood samples from 4,400 Ukrainian soldiers and 1,000 Georgians". It also claimed that according to media reports, in 2013, after "the Pentagon launched an anthrax vaccine experiment at the Lugar Research Center in Georgia, an anthrax epidemic broke out there".
Azerbaijan and China sign MOU on translation and publication of works of classic literature
Elnur Aliyev. Source: Azertac Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and General Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the translation and publication of works of classic literature, Azertac reported on March 30. Reportedly, the main purpose of the MOU is to support the translation and publication of important works of classic literature of both countries over the next five years. The document was signed by the First Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Elnur Aliyev and Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CCP Jiang Jianguo.
Chinese Ambassador urges the Chinese to promote "China-Azerbaijan friendship", introduce Xinjiang "objectively and truly"
Guo Min at the event. Source: Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan On March 31, the Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Overseas Association jointly held a video meeting for representatives of Chinese Xinjiang-Azerbaijan overseas Chinese, and students studying abroad. The Ambassador "fully affirmed the positive contributions" made by the overseas "compatriots" and students to the development of China-Azerbaijan relations and encouraged, urged them to carry on "the fine tradition of loving the country and the native place, firmly safeguard national unity, play the role of a bridge, objectively and truly introduce the great beauty of Xinjiang and contribute to the promotion of China-Azerbaijan friendship".
A photo exhibition on China-Azerbaijan relations was held at Azerbaijan MFA
Guo Min and Elnur Mammadov. Source: China's Embassy in Azerbaijan To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan, on April 1, the commemorative activities and photo exhibition were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min and Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov attended the event and delivered speeches. Other officials also participated in the event.
Azerbaijan and China celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
Guo Min. Source: Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan On April 2, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Azerbaijan, an online video seminar was conducted. Chinese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Guo Min, Azerbaijani Ambassador to China Akram Zeynalli and others attended the event. On the China-Azerbaijan relations, Guo Min said that political mutual trust was constantly deepening, pragmatic cooperation yielded "numerous significant achievements, cultural ties became closer and bilateral relations continued to deepen". |
