(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Azerbaijan is one of
the most active partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO), Political analyst Elchin Mirzabayli told Trend .
He asserts that Azerbaijan's ability to forge strong
partnerships and alliances with key players in the global arena,
despite facing conflicts and challenges, is a testament to the
successful implementation of President Ilham Aliyev's foreign
policy vision.
He pointed out that Azerbaijan spreads its wings around the
world, guided by its own interests and the principles of win-win
cooperation.
"Therefore, Azerbaijan's promotion of its upward relations with
regional and global economic-political power centers of Eurasia,
along with individual states of Europe, South, and North America,
intensification of mutual dialogue and cooperation with African
countries, as well as countries currently in the sphere of global
economic-political processes and located in other regions and
sub-regions, non-traditional for Azerbaijan, promises great
prospects not only for Azerbaijan but also for the region as a
whole.
Taking into consideration the efforts of various Western
circles, especially France, to pull Azerbaijan out of global
processes and the policy pursued in this regard, accompanied by an
over-the-top aggressiveness, it can be concluded that the results
have been accomplished through sheer determination and diplomatic
finesse," he noted.
Mirzabayli stressed that the high dynamism noticeable in the
development of Azerbaijan's relations with the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization and the People's Republic of China, one of the most
important countries of this organization, is a vivid example of the
high trust that official Beijing demonstrates towards Azerbaijan
and its leader.
"The combined territory of the SCO member countries is 65
percent of the territory of the two continents of Europe and Asia,
and the population is almost half of the world's population. The
SCO covers a geography that contains the world's richest natural
resources, even if observers and dialog partners are not included.
1⁄4 percent of the world's GDP is accounted for by the SCO member
countries, which is $23 trillion.
The fact that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev received an invitation to the SCO summit for the second time
in a short period should be taken as a tribute to Azerbaijan, not
only for its geographical location, its role in regional and global
processes, but first of all for the authority of President Ilham
Aliyev and his high leadership qualities.
Holding all the aces in terms of industrial, scientific, and
innovative potential, Azerbaijan has a golden opportunity to get in
on the ground floor of mutually beneficial infrastructure projects
carried out through the SCO platform, particularly in the areas of
transportation, logistics, and energy. Azerbaijan is wide open to
joining forces in industry, science, education, tourism, and
humanitarian endeavors.
The Joint Azerbaijan-China Declaration on Establishment of
Strategic Partnership Relations, adopted within the framework of
President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Astana, is a very important and
historically significant document. The People's Republic of China,
which has always emphasized the factor of responsibility in global
processes, has a peculiar point of view both in international and
bilateral relations.
China chooses its strategic partners with great care and takes
great responsibility for its commitments. One of the factors
contributing to the strengthening of ties between the two
countries, and perhaps the first, in my opinion, is that Azerbaijan
also treats its commitments and relations with its partners with a
high sense of responsibility and sensitivity.
Emphasizing in the joint declaration that Azerbaijan and China,
irrespective of external factors, consider each other as reliable
partners demonstrates that both countries, irrespective of external
factors, pursue independent policies based on national interests,
principles of justice, and mutual interests.
The other point contained in the declaration is that the parties
support the international system under the auspices of the UN,
adhere to the basic norms of international relations based on the
purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose hegemony and
power politics, emphasize the commitment to real multilateralism,
and emphasize that Baku and Beijing have a common viewpoint on the
secure future of mankind.
The most important areas in the economic plane of the
declaration, I think, are the deepening of cooperation within the
framework of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and emphasizing
China's intention to take an active part in the construction and
operation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR,
or Middle Corridor).
By and large, the document can be seen as backing for the
projects carried out with Azerbaijan's involvement and drive,
safeguarding our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty,
by a powerhouse like China that's always on the rise.
The meeting of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev with Chinese leader Xi Jinping will result in deepening
cooperation between countries in all spheres, interaction and
dialog will become more intensive, bilateral relations will acquire
new content and quality," he added.
According to political scientist Agshin Karimov, China is a
powerful state realizing the new world order in conditions of
geopolitical chaos.
"The adoption of the "Joint Declaration on Establishing
Strategic Partnership" by Azerbaijan and China reflects the
development of mutual interests between Baku and Beijing in the new
world order, the deepening of economic cooperation, and unified
bilateral approaches to the security environment," he noted.
The expert stated that Azerbaijan's position in the document on
the inadmissibility of the "One China" policy and any independence
of Taiwan, as well as Beijing's support for the peace agenda
formulated by Azerbaijan with Armenia, will contribute to the
promotion of joint priorities.
"This suggests that Azerbaijan is already implementing a
strategy that goes beyond regional politics. This can manifest
itself in the form of priorities that express interest in and
support for China's agenda in Asia.
China, on the other hand, plays a role in geopolitical issues
along with economic expansion in the South Caucasus and is building
its strategy on Azerbaijan. It can be predicted that China's
diplomatic and political influence will expand along with its
economic portfolio in the region," he emphasized.
He believes that China aims for a multipolar world order in
which countries refrain from interfering in the internal politics
of other countries.
"This is an approach that meets the interests of Azerbaijan, and
it is certainly worth considering that non-interference in internal
affairs is mentioned in the declaration," he said.
He added that China is convinced that the US is dropping the
ball when it comes to handling the military, diplomatic, and moral
responsibilities it is taking on.
"China's approach through these prisms can be aimed at creating
alternatives in the face of other international actors' claims to
hegemony in the South Caucasus. Such an agenda in Beijing will
increase China's support for Azerbaijan in finalizing the draft
peace treaty with Armenia and shaping the security architecture,"
Karimov added.
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