https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3098600/china-working-azerbaijan-belt-and-road-transport-route-even
China working with Azerbaijan on belt and road transport route even as Baku restricts investment
China has used Azerbaijan’s ongoing bilateral negotiations on its World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership to open up access for belt and road projects
The main project involving Azerbaijan is the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, a land transport network stretching from China and Southeast Asia to Europe
Published: 9:00pm, 24 Aug, 2020
“The basic idea is that China is using the WTO accession process to leverage interest towards the Belt and Road Initiative to obtain greater commitments from existing and potential [belt and road] nations. China is not offering any [trade deal] as part of WTO accession but … on the contrary China is requesting market access commitments from candidate countries such as Azerbaijan,” Chaisse said.
Azerbaijan State University of Economics lecturer Bahruz Babayev said Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of the East and West, offers China “an advantageous location and logistic opportunities to accommodate Chinese exports coming through Central Asia and the Caspian Sea”.
“And the [Belt and Road Initiative] overlaps with the strategic interests of Azerbaijan, therefore it is perceived as a welcome initiative,” he said.