Azerbaijani FM familiarizes Chinese community with Azerbaijan
By Sara Rajabova
During his visit to China, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov made a speech on "Priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy" at the China Institute of International Studies.
The event was attended by researchers and specialists from the scientific-research institutions of China, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
During his speech, Mammadyarov gave detailed information about priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, successful economic development model, political, economic and social reforms, as well as infrastructure projects.
He also noted that geographical location of Azerbaijan and its geological and geostrategic features play an important role in the formation of the country's foreign policy priorities.
Mammadyarov also spoke about the transport, infrastructure and communication projects in the country. He said Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line will create appropriate opportunities to improve the welfare of the people and increase turnover.
He said Azerbaijan's economy has been singled out as a stable and healthy economy in the reports of different financial organizations such as IMF, WB.
Mammadyarov also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and consequences of Armenia's aggressive policy.
He stressed that Armenia has not implemented yet four resolutions of the UN Security Council demanding immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan's occupied territories.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by U.S, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, 4,866 were reported missing, almost 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.
Mammadyarov further answered the questions of participants regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan's relations with the countries in the region and European Union, the Middle East and Central Asia region and also global and regional developments.
Earlier, Mammadyarov met with the member of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Mammadyarov visited China on the invitation of Chinese foreign minister from June 30 to July 2.