On September 8, Lu Mei, the Ambassador of China to Azerbaijan, announced at a briefing that the construction of the 100-megawatt Gobustan solar power plant, the first renewable energy project in the country implemented through an auction with Chinese investments, would begin soon. Lu Mei emphasized that the green development strategies of Azerbaijan and China are largely aligned and stated that "Chinese technologies and equipment open up new opportunities for Azerbaijan in the field of sustainable development." She recalled that in June, the "November 8" thermal power plant, the largest in Azerbaijan, was inaugurated in Mingachevir with equipment supplied by Chinese companies, and President Ilham Aliyev had highly appreciated China’s contribution to the project, calling it a successful example of international cooperation. The ambassador also highlighted the participation of Chinese companies in the construction of the 240-megawatt Khizi-Absheron wind power plant, the largest wind energy project in Azerbaijan, and confirmed that the production of electric buses is planned to be launched in Azerbaijan in the near future.

Speaking about bilateral trade, Lu Mei stated that Azerbaijan and China aimed to reach a record trade volume by the end of the year. She pointed out that the two economies complement each other and have significant potential for industrial and investment cooperation. According to her, the conclusion of market access negotiations in June would significantly support Azerbaijan’s accession to the WTO. Official statistics indicated that bilateral trade totaled $2.45 billion in the first seven months of the year, reflecting a 26% year-on-year increase. Lu Mei stressed that China had become Azerbaijan’s fourth-largest trading partner and the top exporter of goods into the country.

At the China-Azerbaijan Bilateral Investment Promotion event held within the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT 2025) in Xiamen, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev stated that the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership gave strong momentum to trade and investment cooperation between the two states. He linked the positive trend to active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Ling Ji, the Deputy Minister of Commerce of China, noted the upward trajectory of economic ties, highlighting Chinese companies’ active role in Azerbaijan’s trade, logistics, industry, and green energy sectors. Elnur Aliyev, the First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, described China as one of Azerbaijan’s main trade partners and emphasized the practical development of investment relations, citing joint initiatives in industrial production, renewable energy, agriculture, and ICT, as well as future projects for localizing production and technology transfer. Elnur Soltanov, the Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, stated that combining Azerbaijan’s solar and wind energy potential with China’s advanced technologies created favorable conditions for joint projects and emphasized that the energy transition partnership would continue to expand.

The event also included speeches and presentations by Yusif Abdullayev, the Executive Director of AZPROMO; Bahruz Bahramov, the Deputy Executive Director of the State Oil Fund; Ismayil Manafov, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Alat Free Economic Zone; Liu Minqiang, the Director of China’s Investment Promotion Agency; and Zhang Shuo, the Director of the Direct Investment Department of the China Investment Corporation. They discussed investment opportunities, trade promotion, and mutually beneficial projects. In a panel session, representatives from Azerbaijan Investment Holding, the Agency for Development of Economic Zones, China’s Khorgos Economic Development Zone, and companies from the industrial and ICT sectors of both countries exchanged proposals to strengthen bilateral business cooperation. The event concluded with B2B meetings aimed at further deepening collaboration.