The Azerbaijani delegation is on a visit to China.
Minister of Economy, co-chair of the Azerbaijan-China Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, Mr. Shahin Mustafayev, has arrived in the People's Republic of China with a delegation of officials and entrepreneurs.
On the first day of the visit, Minister of Economy Mr. Shahin Mustafayev attended the opening ceremony of the First International Chinese Exhibition in Shanghai.
President of People's Republic of China Xi Jinping made speech at the opening ceremony.
It should be noted that at the National Exhibition and Congress Center, more than 3,000 companies from 170 countries are represented at the exhibition. This is the first exhibition of imported products in China. More than 100 new products and technologies are demonstrated at this fair for the first time.
More than 180 products from more than 30 Azerbaijani companies in the field of food products are presented at food and agricultural products and services pavilions. Azerbaijan's grape and fruit wines and other alcoholic drinks, tea, fruit juices, jams and other canned products, confectionery products, nuts, dried fruits, etc., were supported by the Ministry of Economy and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO). Foods Made in Azerbaijan are exhibited in a single country stand. In Azerbaijani pavilions, exhibition visitors are informed about our products and services, and various educational materials are provided. Advertising boards Made in Azerbaijan have been installed in various parts of the exhibition. Within the framework of the exhibition, which will last until November 10, meetings of Azerbaijani companies with distribution distributors of China's agricultural and food industry products will be held.
Azerbaijani delegation headed by Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev got acquainted with the First International China Import International Exhibition.
There are also several forums within the framework of the First China International Import Exhibition. On 6 November, the Azerbaijani delegation took part in the Forum "Belt and Road: Ecological Agriculture and Food Safety" organized by the Chinese Market Management Authority, the Chinese People's Association for Relations with Foreign Countries and the Shanghai Municipal Council.
Speaking at the forum Mr. Shahin Mustafayev stressed that the Azerbaijani-Chinese relations are based on the principles of mutual respect and friendship. It was noted that the political will and intensive dialogue between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and China create favorable conditions for the development of relations in economic, humanitarian and other spheres between our countries. Azerbaijan is one of the first countries to support China's "Belt and Road" strategy and is closely involved in the implementation of this initiative. Using the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor within the framework of China's "Belt and Road" initiative opens up extensive opportunities for economic cooperation, particularly in the fields of investment, trade and transit. Together with the transit area, Azerbaijan is interested in cooperation with China in the field of agriculture and food security. Chinese companies are already successfully cooperating with Azerbaijan in the development of material and technical basis of cotton and silkworm.
Minister Shahin Mustafayev informed about the activities carried out in Azerbaijan in the field of ecologically clean agriculture and food security and emphasized the importance attached to the development of agriculture in Azerbaijan. It was noted that agricultural producers in Azerbaijan are exempt from taxation, have wide opportunities to access their preferential financial resources, provide them with necessary equipment and equipment, modernize irrigation systems, support investment and export promotion programs, and subsidize agricultural producers. As a result of the implemented measures agricultural production in the country increased by 1.7 times over the past 15 years and by 4.3% in the first nine months of this year. The share of agricultural products in the non-oil export of Azerbaijan exceeds 47 percent. As a result of export stimulus measures, export of agricultural products increased by 13 percent in the previous period.
The Minister underlined that systematic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan are highly appreciated by influential international organizations. Thus, in the Doing Business 2019 report released by the World Bank, Azerbaijan was included in the list of 10 world reformers and declared the most reforming country. In the new report, Azerbaijan has risen to 32 positions and ranks 25th among 190 countries and has become a leader among the CIS countries. Our country has achieved significant progress by 100 points on two indicators, reaching the 2nd place in the world in terms of protecting the interests of small investors, and falling to the top ten in the business start up indicator.
As for food security, Shahin Mustafayev noted that serious work has been done in the field of optimization of the food security system within the framework of socio-economic reforms in recent years, and bilateral and multilateral formats are being carried out to further enhance the application of experience in the field of food security.
Members of the Azerbaijani delegation - Deputy Minister of Agriculture Seyfaddin Talibov, acting President of AZPROMO Yusif Abdullayev and Deputy Chairman of the Food Security Agency Rufat Rustamzade attended the event organized by the Trade and Investment Forum.
