China expresses interest in supporting Azerbaijan’s Karabakh demining efforts

China has expressed interest in supporting Azerbaijan’s efforts to clear mines from the Karabakh region during a working visit by a delegation from the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action.

A delegation led by ANAMA Chairman of the Board Vugar Suleymanov is currently visiting China to establish direct contacts with the Department of Arms Control at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ANAMA told Caliber.Az.

As part of the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation met with Sun Xiaobo, Director General of the Department of Arms Control at the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The two sides discussed the implementation of a memorandum aimed at strengthening cooperation in humanitarian demining between ANAMA and China’s Foreign Ministry.

Sun Xiaobo said the Chinese side is interested in supporting Azerbaijan’s efforts to clear mines from the liberated territories and in expanding bilateral cooperation in this area.

Suleymanov thanked China for its contribution to demining operations in Azerbaijan, noting that such support demonstrates China’s solidarity with the country’s important humanitarian mission.

During the trip, the ANAMA delegation also visited the exhibition centre of the Chinese defence industry company NORINCO (China North Industries Group Corporation), where they were presented with a range of modern demining technologies.

The exhibition showcased various types of equipment used in mine clearance operations, including mechanical demining machines, robots designed to neutralise explosive ordnance, drones for mine detection, and other technological solutions. Specialists from the company provided detailed briefings on the technical specifications of the equipment and explained how the systems could be used in demining operations.

The ANAMA delegation is also expected to hold further meetings during the visit, including talks at China’s Foreign Ministry, the Engineering University of the Ground Forces of the People’s Liberation Army of China, and several Chinese companies that specialise in producing demining equipment.

The working visit is scheduled to conclude on March 13.

By Tamilla Hasanova