Ilham Aliyev Photo: CFP

 

Editor's Note:

Azerbaijan, located in the region of Central Asia and Transcaucasia, is a unique country as it is a wealthy former Soviet republic with rich oil resources and was a historically important stop along the Silk Road. The country is one of the initiators of restoration of the Silk Road. The Global Times (GT) reporter recently interviewed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the president shared his ideas about China-Azerbaijan relations, the restoration of the Silk Road and other regional issues.

GT: China and Azerbaijan keep on good terms. How do you evaluate the present and the prospects for China-Azerbaijan relationship? And what problems do you think still exist?

Aliyev: The relationship between China and Azerbaijan is established on the basis of being friends and partners. Though the two countries are thousands of kilometers apart, we have kept close contacts in all fields. We still remember that 20 years ago, when the hero of our nation, Heydar Aliyev, paid a historic visit to China in 1994, leaders of the two countries signed bilateral documents, laying the foundation of development for relations between the two countries.

I'm happy to say that there doesn't exist any unsolved political problem between China and Azerbaijan. We support each other on the issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity and share similar stances on important regional and international affairs. Azerbaijan supports the one-China policy and insists on the stance that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

Bilateral relations between China and Azerbaijan have made significant progresses in all fields. Economic cooperation develops rapidly as the bilateral trade volume has increased greatly from $1.5 million in 1992 to the current $700 million and there are still many potential opportunities for both sides to cooperate in the economy and investments. From 2004 to 2011, 40 Chinese companies registered in Azerbaijan and 16 Azerbaijani companies registered in China.

Among economic and trade cooperation, energy played a crucial role. Chinese oil and gas companies invested $600 million in Azerbaijan from 1995 to 2001 and currently Chinese oil companies are involved in exploration of four oil fields in Azerbaijan. I believe that the economic cooperation will go further under our joint efforts as a long term, stable relationship is in the common interests of the people of both countries.

GT: Azerbaijan has demonstrated interest in China's proposal of the establishment of the new Silk Road. What would Azerbaijan do to help achieve the goal?

Aliyev: Both Azerbaijan and China were important parts of the Silk Road in history and centuries' history connected us closely. I believe, keeping this memory in our mind will help consolidate the traditional friendship and good terms of the two countries. I also believe that the political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and China will be improved to a new level after the reestablishing of the Silk Road.

Considering the geographic location of Azerbaijan, my country could play an important role in the new Silk Road and develop our sea, aerial, railway and arterial roads as well as all transportation. The reestablishment program wouldn't be achieved without the attendance of Azerbaijan as it is one of the most important strategic stops along the Silk Road. We are confident on the building of this transportation corridor and we are also one of its initiators. The corridor will not only contribute to the new Silk Road but also be significant in expanding the transportation connection between China and Europe.

The transportation corridor is the shortest way between Europe and Asia. Heydar Aliyev used to be one of the initiators of this corridor and under his efforts, Azerbaijan held an international forum about the reestablishment and development of the Silk Road, during which multilateral transport documents were signed.

Currently, we have built a new port 60 kilometers away from Baku (capital of Azerbaijan) that could provide service and support for all kinds of ships. Azerbaijan is also building an airport for transport planes as well as a land transportation junction. All of these efforts could make Azerbaijan a logistics center for international transportation. The construction program of the railway linking Baku, Tbilisi (capital of Georgia) and Kars (a northeastern city of Turkey) is another effort of Azerbaijan and the program will be a priority of our regional policy. The railway would connect the transportation corridors of Europe and Asia together, which would cement the transit position of Azerbaijan.

GT: After independence, Azerbaijan has achieved the balance between domestic and foreign policy and maintained social stability. How did Azerbaijan achieve it?

Aliyev: Azerbaijan is a reliable partner in the domain of regional and global energy security. We are carrying out independent foreign policy, which means that we won't bend to any side in political decision making. Our foreign policy is the extension of domestic policy as it determines the interest of the country and people. Azerbaijan won't serve as outpost of any country because it is our goal to create a regional and international environment without confrontation and all countries could be cooperation partners. The practice also proved that the non-confrontation policy of Azerbaijan could make our country elected as a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council, which is a great achievement of our diplomatic policy. It again proved that Azerbaijan is a significant country in both the region and the world.

GT: The world is focused on the crisis in Ukraine now. What do you think of the crisis given Ukraine and Azerbaijan are both ex-Soviet republics?

Aliyev: Of course, we have been paying close attention to what is happening in Ukraine. Azerbaijan and Ukraine used to be in one country together for decades. We have kept good relations and the position of good partners with Ukraine and other countries. We hope all regional conflicts could be solved peacefully, including the crisis in Ukraine and hope the tensions in the country could be calmed down as soon as possible. Azerbaijan insists its own principle and supports the basic norms of international laws. When handling international relations, we have always abided by the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, that borders are inviolable and non-interference in internal affairs. Any disputes including disputes over both domestic and foreign policies should be solved peacefully and through dialogue under the norms of international laws.

Newspaper headline: Azerbaijani president talks up country’s importance as regional hub