Azerbaijan, Baku, 13 June / Trend, I. Izzet /
The Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) under the President of Azerbaijan hosted a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Baku Hong Jiuyin on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, the center's director Farhad Mammadov noted the comprehensive development of relations between Azerbaijan and China. He stressed that President Ilham Aliyev attaches great importance to these relations.
The ambassador spoke about China's foreign policy and the changes that have occurred in the country in recent years.
He recalled that the relations between the two countries were established in 1992.
"Last year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Thanks to the leaders of the two countries, relations have been developing successfully with stable results achieved.
Relations between China and Azerbaijan have reached an unprecedented level, political mutual trust and respect established. There are currently no outstanding issues between the two countries. Both countries support each other with regards to the sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Ambassador said.
According to Hong Jiuyin, the legal framework of relations is strengthening, and the two governments have signed 12 agreements. He noted that in 21 years the trade turnover between the two countries has increased by 600 times.
"If in 1992, the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $1.5 million, in 2011, this figure reached $1.086 billion. Compared to 2009, it increased by 16.5 percent, compared with 1992 - by 600 times. Last year the figure reached a record high of $1.2 billion," the Ambassador said.
According to him, the development of friendly relations and mutual ties between Azerbaijan and China has great potential. China attaches great importance to this development.
"The level of trade and economic relations between the two countries can not yet be fully satisfying. More investments are needed. In China, there are companies willing to make large investments in Azerbaijan. China has begun investing to the sum of $700 million. There are also 15 Azerbaijani companies operating in China. level of mutual investment should be increased in the future should for the development of relations between Azerbaijan and China, and we're working on it," the Ambassador said.