Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is on a state visit to China, visited Shaanxi Automobile Group in the city of Xian on December 9.

The Shaanxi Automobile Group designs, manufactures, sells, and exports heavy duty trucks.

It offers dump trucks, tractor trucks, tank trucks, concrete dump trucks, all-wheel drive trucks, special heavy duty trucks, firefighting trucks, and semi-trailers.

The company also manufactures heavy duty automobiles, medium lorries, buses, and heavy duty truck axles; and radiators, oil tanks, and other auto parts.

Founded in 1968, Shaanxi Automobile Group currently employs 23,000 workforce.

The president watched production process at the plant. Its buses are sold under the Eurostar Bus brand to more than 90 countries, including Azerbaijan.

The company has 41 offices and 310 service centers across the world.

Shaanxi Automobile Group consists of 10 companies. It is among the 500 largest companies in China and Asia.

Later, President Aliyev arrived in Beijing from the city of Xian.

A guard of honor was lined up for the president at Beijing International Airport, which was decorated with the national flags of both countries.

President Aliyev was welcomed by top-ranking state and government officials of China.

On December 10, President Aliyev visited the Capital Museum and Huawei Exhibition Center in Beijing.

Relations between Azerbaijan and China have a long history. Because of its advantageous geographical situation Azerbaijan was a natural crossing point on the way from East to West and North to South and was one of the main trade, transport and cultural centers on the Great Silk Road.

China recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established a year later. The Embassy of China to Azerbaijan was opened in 1992, while Azerbaijan’s Embassy to China was opened in 1993. The two countries permanently support each other on international organizations.

China is a huge opportunity and a priority market for Azerbaijan. More than 50 agreements were signed between the two countries.

The trade turnover between China and Azerbaijan amounted to $288.4 million in the first six months of 2015, some $259.3 million of which were accounted for Azerbaijan's import operations.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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