Azerbaijan's top lawmaker held talks with visiting senior
Chinese lawmaker Xu Jialu in Baku on Friday and both sides
expressed the hope to enhance cooperation between their
parliaments.
Ogtay Asadov, chairman of the national assembly of Azerbaijan,
said parliamentary exchanges, which form an important part of
bilateral ties, will help promote cooperation in all areas between
the two countries. He said Azerbaijan would like to maintain
high-level exchanges with China.
Xu, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress (NPC), said that bilateral relations have been
developing smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic
ties.
"Azerbaijan is an important friend of China in the Caucasus
area," Xu said.
"China is grateful to Azerbaijan for rendering firm support to
China on the Taiwan question and other issues," Xu noted, adding
that China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with
Azerbaijan.
Later in the day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also met
with Xu.
Aliyev said that as a permanent member of the UN Security
Council, China is playing a more and more important role in the
world.
"The two sides may further expand exchanges and cooperation in
politics, economy, trade, culture, technology and local affairs to
enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples
and lay an increasingly solid foundation for the development of
bilateral relations," the president said.
Xu is paying a four-day visit to Azerbaijan.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2006 )
