Azerbaijani president: Zangezur Corridor to benefit neighbours across all borders

Azerbaijan’s Zangezur Corridor is set to become a key segment of both the Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor, enhancing regional connectivity and fostering multilateral cooperation, President Ilham Aliyev stated during his speech at the SCO Plus meeting in Tianjin, China.

“The Zangezur Corridor will soon become another important segment of the Middle Corridor, as well as the North-South Corridor, which will contribute to enhancing peace, multilateral partnership,” President Aliyev said. He underlined that the corridor will benefit all of Azerbaijan's close and distant neighbours to the east, west, north, and south of the country’s borders, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s role in international trade, the President noted the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor.

“The Middle Corridor represents a reliable and safe route connecting China, Central Asia with Europe through Azerbaijan. Since 2022, the volume of cargo traffic along the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan has increased by almost 90 percent,” he said.

President Aliyev added that transit times for cargo along the corridor have been significantly reduced, and agreements recently reached to connect the main part of Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic are expected to further expand international transit opportunities.

“Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of China in the region,” President Aliyev said. “We contribute to maintaining international and regional peace and security, and we are implementing large-scale economic, transport, and energy projects.”

The President also highlighted Azerbaijan’s early support for China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, noting that the country is implementing significant projects in this direction.

Over the past two years, Azerbaijan-China relations have reached a “qualitatively new level,” President Aliyev said.

“Azerbaijan and China are connected by warm, friendly relations and a comprehensive strategic partnership. Deepening these relations is one of the important directions of Azerbaijan's foreign policy,” he added. The signing of a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries this year was described by the President as a historic event that has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.

President Aliyev also noted Azerbaijan’s active support for China-led initiatives aimed at promoting global peace, security, and development.

“Azerbaijan has actively supported the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by China to promote international peace, security, and development,” he said.

“We also welcome the Global Governance Initiative presented by the President of the People's Republic of China as an important and timely measure aimed at improving international relations based on the sovereign equality of states and respect for the UN Charter and international law,” President Aliyev added.

By Vugar Khalilov