“Diplomatic talks between Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and China’s President Xi Jinping have set the tone for the development of relations between the two countries,” political commentator and founder of the China Briefing newsletter Shen Shiwei said in an exclusive interview with AZERTAC.
“Diplomacy conducted by heads of state plays a critical role in the modern era, as international relations navigate significant geopolitical shifts. Consequently, head-of-state diplomacy becomes an even more decisive factor under such circumstances. I believe that the personal friendship between President Xi Jinping and President Ilham Aliyev has made a substantial contribution to the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries,” Shen Shiwei emphasized.
The political commentator highlighted a two-tiered impact of head-of-state diplomacy. “The first is setting the tone and priorities — determining the overall direction and key areas for the development of relations between two nations. The second is providing a “top-down” mandate, whereby agreements reached by state leaders establish clear priorities that guide all government institutions, both central and local, in implementing cooperation projects.”
Describing 2025 as a “productive and fruitful year” for China–Azerbaijan relations, Shen Shiwei stressed that President Ilham Aliyev’s visits to China throughout the year were of great importance in advancing bilateral cooperation across various fields.
Shahin Jafarov
Special correspondent
