On the morning of April 23, 2025, President Xi Jinping held talks with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who is on a state visit to China, at 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 noted that no mountain and ocean can distance people with shared aspirations. Despite the ever-changing international landscape, China-Azerbaijan relations have remained closely connected despite the long distance and have grown even stronger over time. The two countries have consistently upheld the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations, adhered to mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and viewed and developed bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. Both sides should continue to strengthen political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, enhance international collaboration, and open a new chapter of all-round cooperation between China and Azerbaijan, contributing to the development and revitalization of both nations and bringing greater benefits to their people.

Xi Jinping stressed that firm mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests is a fine tradition of China and Azerbaijan and is also an inherent part of being 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 ready to carry out in-depth law enforcement and security cooperation with Azerbaijan and resolutely crack down on the "three forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism. The Belt and Road cooperation between China and Azerbaijan has achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. It is essential to optimize the top-level design, seek greater synergy of development strategies, improve the cooperation mechanism, deeply explore the potential for cooperation, and further deepen and substantiate Belt and Road cooperation for high-quality development. It is necessary to encourage and support cooperation on education, culture, tourism and youth as well as at the sub-national level, bring the two peoples closer, and cement the foundation of popular support for friendship between the two countries.

Xi Jinping noted that tariff and trade wars harm the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, undermine the multilateral trading system, and disrupt the world economic order. China will work with Azerbaijan to defend the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, firmly safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and uphold international fairness and justice.

Ilham Aliyev said under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has seen rapid economic and social development, and its international standing and influence have been continuously growing. Although the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century, Azerbaijan and China have consistently respected and trusted each other. The cooperation between the two countries has deepened continuously, economic and trade relations have developed rapidly, sub-national exchanges have become increasingly frequent, and significant progress has been made in connectivity. Azerbaijan firmly abides by the one-China principle, insists that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to realize national reunification. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping are conducive to world peace, stability and prosperity, which the Azerbaijani side highly appreciates and actively supports. Azerbaijan is willing to work with China to deepen the advancement of the comprehensive strategic partnership, expand cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative, digital economy, green energy, science and technology, and other fields, deepen exchanges between political parties and people of the two countries, strengthen collaboration in international and regional affairs, and work for greater development of bilateral relations.

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

Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People.

Upon Ilham Aliyev's arrival, honor guards lined up in salutation. As Xi Jinping and Ilham Aliyev stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Azerbaijan and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Ilham Aliyev reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.

At noon on the same day, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for Ilham Aliyev and his wife at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi was present at the above events.