Azerbaijan is leveraging its strategic geographic location and enhancing its infrastructure to create one of the most attractive transit routes for international cargo transport across the Eurasian continent, President Ilham Aliyev said on Wednesday.
Aliyev, who was on a state visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, sat down for an exclusive interview with CCTV in Beijing. During the interview, he shared his insights on the growing bilateral relations, Belt and Road cooperation, and the broader international landscape.
Azerbaijan was one of the earliest countries to publicly support the Belt and Road Initiative. Now, with the initiative entering its second decade of implementation, Aliyev has his sights firmly set on the future, particularly in efforts to boost freight transport connectivity.
"We already with our neighbors established a joint venture to make the passage of cargoes much easier and quicker. Today, for instance, with respect to transportation infrastructure and also administration reforms in our customs, including digitalization, the time for cargoes from China to Black Sea through Azerbaijan is only from 10 to 12 days. Last year, we had 86 percent growth in transit transportation between China and Azerbaijan," he said.
Aliyev expressed confidence that Azerbaijan's transportation routes will soon be among the best options for international cargo shipment.
"And as I said today, this is only the beginning. Transportation routes through Azerbaijan will be, I think, one of the safest, shortest and one of the most attractive among other routes which are available today," he said.
Azerbaijan's strategic location places it at the heart of the crossroads between Europe and Asia, serving as a critical link for Central Asia and Western China. While underscoring this geographical advantage, Aliyev stressed that the country must foster strong relationships not only with its immediate neighbors but also with those further afield to truly become a key player in international transit.
"We are just between Asia and Europe and between north and south. So both transportation corridors cross Azerbaijan. But to become really an important transit country, you have to have good relations with your neighbors and with the neighbors of your neighbors. That's what we are trying to do, and I think we achieved that," said the president.
Azerbaijan strives to build best transit route for int'l cargo transport: president
