On the morning of April 23, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who was on a state visit to China, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Azerbaijan.

Xi Jinping pointed out that those who share the same ideals will not be deterred by mountains and seas. Despite the ever - changing international situation, the relationship between China and Azerbaijan has been in harmony for thousands of miles and has stood the test of time. The two countries have always remembered the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, adhered to mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win - win cooperation, and viewed and developed bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long - term perspective. The two sides should continue to enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and intensify international collaboration, opening a new chapter in all - round cooperation between China and Azerbaijan, facilitating the development and rejuvenation of the two countries, and better benefiting their peoples.

Xi Jinping emphasized that firmly supporting each other on issues concerning each other's core interests is an excellent tradition of China and Azerbaijan and also the due responsibility of strategic partners. China supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and continuing to follow a development path that suits its national conditions. China is willing to carry out in - depth law - enforcement and security cooperation with Azerbaijan to firmly combat the "three forces". The Belt and Road Initiative jointly built by China and Azerbaijan has achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries. It is necessary to optimize the top - level design, strengthen the docking of development strategies, improve the cooperation mechanism, tap the potential of cooperation, promote the in - depth and solid implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and achieve high - quality development. It is necessary to encourage and support cooperation in education, culture, tourism, youth, local areas, and other fields to promote people - to - people and cultural exchanges and lay a solid public opinion foundation for the friendship between the two countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that tariff wars and trade wars damage the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, undermine 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 safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, and defend international fairness and justice.

Aliyev said that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has witnessed rapid economic and social development, and its international status and influence have been continuously enhanced. Despite the centennial changes in the world, Azerbaijan and China have always respected and trusted each other, with continuously deepening cooperation, rapidly developing economic and trade relations, increasingly close local exchanges, and great progress in connectivity. Azerbaijan firmly adheres to the one - China principle, holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and supports all the efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. The concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the three global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping are conducive to world peace, stability, and prosperity, and Azerbaijan highly appreciates and actively supports them. Azerbaijan is willing to work with China to further promote the construction of a comprehensive strategic partnership, expand cooperation in various fields such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the digital economy, green energy, and science and technology, deepen exchanges between political parties and in the cultural and people - to - people fields, strengthen collaboration in international and regional affairs, and promote greater development of bilateral relations.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly signed the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", and witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in fields such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the judiciary, green development, the digital economy, intellectual property rights, and space.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva on the East Gate Square of the Great Hall of the People.

When Aliyev arrived, the honor guards lined up to pay their respects. Xi Jinping and Aliyev stepped onto the reviewing stand. The military band played the national anthems of China and Azerbaijan, and 21 - gun salutes were fired in Tiananmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Aliyev reviewed the honor guard of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and watched the march - past.

At noon that day, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for the Aliyevs in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi attended the above - mentioned activities.