Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova has delivered an address at the Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia in the course of her working visit to the People's Republic of China.

In her address, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova first shared her thoughts about the significance of the Boao Forum. She said that dialogue and co-operation are no longer a choice but a necessity in an era of mounting geopolitical tensions, deepening inequalities and global challenges, and that the Boao Forum serves as an important platform for collective reflection and co-ordinated action in this regard. She said that the Forum has proven its worth and earned recognition throughout more than 25 years as a place where leaders and experts come together to develop practical solutions, promote sustainable development and strengthen international co-operation.

Addressing the Forum, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis also drew attention to the growing role of China on the contemporary international stage, stating that China plays an important and constructive role in the current system of international relations. In her opinion, China's remarkable achievements in the field of economic, social and technological development as well as the efforts to share those successes speak to a forward-looking vision which encompasses the common future of Humanity. She expressed confidence that the successful implementation of the 15^th Five-Year Plan adopted by the National People's Congress will develop and broaden this vision further.

The Speaker remarked that the initiatives in the areas of Global Development, Global Security, Global Civilisation and Global Governance, as put forward by President of China Xi Jinping and supported by Azerbaijan, constitute a comprehensive framework that rests upon co-operation, mutual respect and shared responsibility in the cause of building a more inclusive, secure and sustainable world.

In her address, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis told the event participants about the Azerbaijani-Chinese relations. Sahiba Gafarova observed that the countries are brought close together by their shared views. According to her, as we are preparing to mark the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and China next year, these relations have reached a new level already. The Speaker emphasised that the high-status visits which have taken place recently, including President Ilham Aliyev's visits to China and the signing of Joint Declarations of strategic and comprehensive strategic partnerships, clearly demonstrate the depth of the political dialogue, mutual trust and expanding co-operation between our countries. Azerbaijan fully supports China's initiatives and shares these principles, she added.

The Speaker of the Milli Majlis informed the participants of the Forum that Azerbaijan, which had endured nearly three decades of occupation and had then restored her territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with international law, attaches particular importance to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. As Speaker Sahiba Gafarova stressed, the national vision formulated by President Ilham Aliyev is founded on peace, development, multilateralism, mutual respect and co-operation, and this vision is being translated into practical steps consistently.

Addressing the Forum further,  Speaker Sahiba Gafarova informed the assembly of the global initiatives that Azerbaijan had put forth under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. It was said that Azerbaijan had actively championed the interests of the Global South and had contributed to strengthening the institutional foundations of the Non-Aligned Movement during her chairmanship of it. According to her, the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement, established upon the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev and currently chaired by the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, constitutes an important platform for achieving common goals through inter-parliamentary co-operation.

It was pointed out also that, whilst hosting COP-29, Azerbaijan was working actively on bridging the differences between the Global North and the Global South as well as on achieving the key outcomes within the global climate agenda.

The Speaker also stressed Azerbaijan's continued active engagement on such matters as the promotion of dialogue of civilisations, multiculturalism and tolerance, including through such platforms as the Global Baku Forum.

Besides, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis mentioned the forthcoming hosting by Azerbaijan of the World Urban Forum as well as she referred to the Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, scheduled to take place in Baku in autumn 2026, which, she asserted, will further strengthen our country's commitment to international co-operation.

Continuing her address, the Speaker of the Milli Majlis also drew the attention of those present to the fact that the recent global processes have once again demonstrated just how strategically important energy security, transport and communications happen to be. Speaker Sahiba Gafarova underlined the important role that Azerbaijan plays in ensuring energy security across a vast region, saying that continued investments in the green energy sector will further strengthen this contribution.

As was also noted in the speech, Azerbaijan has become one of the key transport hubs of Eurasia and, being amongst the first supporters of the One Belt, One Road Initiative, continues to contribute to its development energetically. It was said that Azerbaijan is the second country after China in terms of the amount of investment put in this initiative. It was further noted that the Middle Corridor has today already proved its worth as one of the most optimal and secure routes connecting Europe with Central Asia and China via the Caspian Sea. Furthermore, according to the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, the effectiveness of the Middle Corridor will be further enhanced by the restoration of transport and communications links between the western regions of our country and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in the context of the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Middle Corridor is increasingly establishing itself as precisely a reliable and efficient route linking Europe with Asia.

In conclusion, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked that, as President Ilham Aliyev emphasises, our projects are designed not only to derive economic benefits but also to promote the strengthening of stability, interconnections and trust between peoples. The Boao Forum once again demonstrates that we are capable of addressing common challenges effectively and building a more stable and prosperous future via partnership, dialogue and mutual respect,

The Press and Public Relations Department
The Milli Majlis