Friendly Chinese people on October 1 marks 57th anniversary of establishment of the People’s Republic of China. On the eve of this significant holiday, the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China in Azerbaijan to the country Czhan Haizhzou has given interview to AZERTAC agency. Here is the abridged text of interview.

-Mr. Ambassador, You already for more half a year work in Azerbaijan. How there has passed your acclimatization, including political, in Baku, whether activity of diplomatic mission of China, has changed in something, and what are its present priorities?

-Baku is a nice, very ancient historical city with rather hospitable and friendly people. Baku is very much pleasant to me. You know, the post of the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of China to Azerbaijan for me, on the one hand, is a great honor, and on another - a huge responsibility. Still working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, I supervised the Chinese-Azeri relations, and it now helps my work here. The basic purpose of our embassy is indefatigable promotion of the Chinese-Azerbaijan relations of friendship and cooperation to deepen and expand exchange and interaction of two countries in various areas. We have to strengthen the role of traditional Chinese-Azerbaijan friendship for prosperity and developments of both states so that we shoulder hand-in-hand went forward, bringing contribution to the cause of peace and developments all over the world.

-In conditions of the globalization of world, China, precisely and consistently defending national interests, carries out reforms on openness of society. This experience is difficult for overestimating, especially for the young independent states. Some words, please, how the economy of the People’s Republic of China in XXI century develops.

-Beginning form 1978, China pursues the policy of reforms and openness, therefore, have been reached greater successes in political, economic, social and other areas of life. According to IMF, in 2005 GDP of China has made 27,2 billion dollars that has brought the country on the fourth place in the world. But, you know, rapid economic development cause also new problems, for example, exhaustive use of natural resources, environmental contamination, etc. In this connection, the government of China has put forward new thinking about development. It consists that China should follow on the way of long development, that is harmonious balance between economic and social development, between the person and the nature. Our country now pays great attention not so much to speed of development of economy, rather to its quality, realization of long, all-round social and economic development. Sure, China, keeping the accelerated growth of economy, will leave on the balanced, stable and all-round way of development.

- It would be desirable to hear your estimation of the present condition of the Azeri- Chinese relations, their prospects.

-China consistently adheres to the independent peace foreign policy directed on strengthening of friendship and cooperation with all countries of the world based on principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. The Chinese-Azerbaijan relations also are strongly constructed on this firm basis. Our country gives great value to development of the Chinese-Azerbaijani contacts. The People’s Republic of China is one of the first states to recognize independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, establish with it diplomatic relations in 1992, and then cooperation has reached qualitatively new level and year-by-year extends, goes deeper, that brings new positive results.

-In 1994, HE, the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Heydar Aliyev for the first time has visited China with official visit. During visit, was made the Joint Statement on bases of friendship between the People’s Republic of China and Azerbaijan and signed more than 30 important documents that has created strong basis for development of mutual relations. In March 2005, HE President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev made an official visit to China. Very important meetings and negotiations were held with HE Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao, reached common points of view by extensive quantity of questions that has stimulated the further development to bilateral relations. In a word, for the last more than 10 years the Chinese-Azerbaijan links continuously go deep. China and Azerbaijan mutually support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other, respect the ways of development chosen by their people in conformity with their condition. They carry out regular consultations and cooperate on the major questions on international arena. We are friendly partners, which can trust each other. The Chinese -Azerbaijan relations became a vivid example of the interstate relations based on principles of equality, mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.

-Energy safety is one of the priority problems which have been put forward today in the agenda. It is known that the Chinese companies last years more actively join in development of oil deposits of Azerbaijan. Whether it is possible to speak already about any results of their activity, and they are ready to the further investments?

-Azerbaijan is rich with oil and gas resources, and China possesses specific high technology and experience in the field of development of power, petro-investigation and extraction. Two parties have already made the first steps in cause of adjustment of cooperation in oil sphere. Such influential Chinese oil companies as SINOPEK and SNPC have partially taken part in reconstruction of on-shore oil deposits in Azerbaijan. The Chinese party is ready to increase in the further the capital investments in development of oil-and-gas deposits of Azerbaijan. Prospects of cooperation are reliable.

Besides, I wish to emphasize, that our cooperation in power sphere covers not only oil-and-gas sector. For example, recently Chinese National Corporation of the electronic equipment (“China National Electronic Equipment Corporation”) has won the tender for construction of high-frequency station in the Azerbaijan city of Khachmaz. I think that we could make much for rise of electro-power sphere of Azerbaijan.

Today, Azerbaijan is at the stage of the accelerated economic development, and demand for the electric power continuously rises. Following this, China can render services on maintenance of introduction of high technologies, and high-quality service of under construction Hydroelectric Power Stations (HPS) and reconstruction of the out-of-date electro-power supply systems. I am assured and I hope that interaction in this important sphere will continuously extend and will receive active result.

- What about cooperation in humanitarian sphere, in particular, in the field of culture, education - do they correspond to modern level of mutual relations?

-When I have arrived to Azerbaijan, I have felt deep love of Azerbaijan people to Chinese culture. I remember, our embassy together with the corresponding organizations of Azerbaijan has organized evening of the Chinese music, conducted a conference devoted to the Chinese architecture. We have acquainted the Azerbaijan spectator with national musical instruments, art of traditional Chinese architecture and have been very touched by interest of Azerbaijanis to the Chinese culture.