On the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, Azerbaijan’s Speaker of the National Assembly Sahiba Gafarova and Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who are currently visiting China to attend the forum, held separate meetings with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), on Wednesday (March 25) in Boao, Hainan Province.
During his meeting with Sahiba Gafarova, Zhao Leji stated that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Ilham Aliyev, China–Azerbaijan relations have been advancing steadily at a high level and in a comprehensive manner. China, he noted, stands ready to work with Azerbaijan to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen mutual support, expand trade and investment, enhance connectivity, and promote people-to-people exchanges. He also emphasized China’s commitment to jointly building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Zhao further expressed China’s willingness to strengthen exchanges with Azerbaijan’s legislative body and provide legal support for practical bilateral cooperation. He also highlighted the steady progress of China’s high-quality economic development.
In response, Gafarova praised the BFA Annual Conference as an important platform for dialogue and cooperation. She reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s firm adherence to the One-China policy and expressed her country’s interest in expanding cooperation with China across various sectors, as well as deepening exchanges between legislative institutions.
In his meeting with Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Zhao Leji described China and Kazakhstan as friendly neighbors and enduring comprehensive strategic partners built on a high level of mutual trust. He noted that President Xi Jinping and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met twice last year, providing strategic direction for the continued development of bilateral relations.
Zhao said China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, strengthen political mutual trust, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, enrich cultural exchanges, and elevate China–Kazakhstan relations to a higher level and broader scope. He also underscored the constructive role of China’s legislative body in promoting bilateral friendship.
For his part, Sklyar expressed Kazakhstan’s support for President Xi Jinping’s series of global initiatives. He noted that under the leadership of the two presidents, Kazakhstan–China relations have been growing ever deeper. Kazakhstan is keen to further enhance cooperation with China in areas such as legislation, trade, and energy, and to strengthen overall bilateral ties.
Source: Anupama-Alim-Shishir, China Media Group.