Xi says China supports Azerbaijan in joining SCO

China’s vice premier meets with ASEAN secretary-general

Monitoring Desk

TIANJIN: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said China supports Azerbaijan in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the port city of Tianjin ahead of the SCO Summit 2025.

Aliyev is in China to attend the summit, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Azerbaijan is currently a dialogue partner of the SCO.

Xi stressed the need to continuously improve the efficiency of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, expand cooperation in traditional fields such as infrastructure, agriculture and energy, and foster new growth drivers in emerging sectors including the digital economy, green development and artificial intelligence.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan is ready to enhance cooperation with China in economy and trade, science and technology, connectivity, and tourism, to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

He added that Azerbaijan is willing to work more closely with China within the SCO framework to jointly promote regional and global peace and development.

The two sides signed several bilateral cooperation agreements covering artificial intelligence, innovation in science and technology, finance, and media.

Senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the meeting.
China’s vice premier meets with ASEAN secretary-general

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing on Sunday met with Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of leaders of China and ASEAN countries, the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to deepen.

China is developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions and advancing new industrialization, and stands ready to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with ASEAN, Zhang said.

Kao Kim Hourn spoke highly of ASEAN-China relations and expressed the hope to enhance cooperation with China in areas such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
SCO shoulders greater responsibilities to safeguard peace, boosting development in world with uncertainties

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is shouldering greater responsibilities for safeguarding regional peace and stability, and for boosting development of various countries in a world of increasing uncertainties and accelerated changes.

Xi made the remarks at a banquet to welcome international guests who are in China’s port city of Tianjin to attend the SCO Summit 2025 from Sunday to Monday.

Xi expressed confidence that with concerted efforts of all parties, the summit will be a complete success, and that the SCO is certain to play an even bigger role and achieve more progress, making greater contribution to boosting the unity and cooperation among member states, pooling the strength of the Global South and pushing for more progress of human civilization.