China, Azerbaijan establish comprehensive strategic partnership

China

China, Azerbaijan establish comprehensive strategic partnership

2025-04-23 14:09 Last Updated At：23:47

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries as they held talks in Beijing on Wednesday.

Xi noted that despite the evolving global environment, the relationship between China and Azerbaijan remains robust.

He called for continuous efforts from both sides to enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, deepen international coordination, and open a new chapter of all-round cooperation, so as to boost the development and prosperity of both countries and bring greater benefits to the two peoples.

Xi emphasized that offering each other firm support on issues concerning respective core interests is a fine tradition between China and Azerbaijan, and is also an inherent requirement for being strategic partners.

China supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in its pursuit of a development path tailored to its national realities, said Xi.

Xi also highlighted the fruitful outcomes of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries, and the tangible benefits brought to the two peoples through such cooperation.

According to Xi, tariff and trade wars undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, hurt the multilateral trading system, and impact the world economic order.

China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, firmly protect respective legitimate rights and interests, and defend international fairness and justice, said Xi.

For his part, Aliyev said under the strong leadership of President Xi, China's economy and society have experienced rapid development, while its international status and influence continue to rise.

Azerbaijan is firmly committed to the one-China principle, upholds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and supports the Chinese government's effort to achieve national reunification, said the Azerbaijani president.

Aliyev also expressed Azerbaijan's willingness to work with China to further promote the building of comprehensive strategic partnership, expand Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen cooperation in sectors such as digital economy, green energy, and science and technology.

Following the talks, the two leaders signed a joint statement on establishing comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan.

They also witnessed the signing of more than 20 cooperation agreements in various sectors, including justice, Belt and Road cooperation, green development, digital economy, intellectual property rights, and space cooperation.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome banquet for Aliyev and his wife at the Great Hall of the People at noon on Wednesday.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.