BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. Full
operationalization of the Middle Corridor will enable trade
relations between China and Azerbaijan to grow further, Head of the
Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet
Hajiyev said in an interview with China Global Television Network
(CGTN), Trend
reports.

“Economic and trade relations are moving forward between the two
countries. Connectively component is also crucial in trade and
economic relations. With the full operationalization of the Middle
Corridor, trade relations between China and Azerbaijan will
continue growing further,” he said.

Hajiyev pointed out that one of the challenges is that the
Middle Corridor runs through the territories of many different
countries.

“Here we are indeed working very hard and very closely with our
Kazakhstani friends. In such a project that runs through the
territories of different countries, one window opportunity is
crucial, especially for Chinese companies, which would like to
switch their cargo transport to the European market. We are already
working with Kazakhstan, Georgia, and we would like also to involve
our Chinese friends as well,” he noted.

Hajiyev went on to add that simplification and standardization
of the customs regulations as well is important.

“We have also taken the note of the recent Middle Corridor
arrangement signed between China and Kazakhstan. We are also
thinking about signing such an arrangement. Maybe we can sign a
trilateral arrangement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and China. We
are looking forward to the development of China + Central Asia and
China + Central Asia + Azerbaijan concepts,” he said.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that
connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the
region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern
Corridor and Southern Corridor.

The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries
such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes
through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye before
reaching Europe.

The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the
eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the
longer maritime routes.