On 17 November, the “China Visitors Summit” was held in Baku for the first time, bringing together representatives of the tourism industries of China and Azerbaijan. The event was organized by the State Tourism Agency.
In his opening remarks, Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, stated that the agreements reached during President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China have opened a new chapter for cooperation in the field of tourism between the two countries. He noted that there are currently two priority directions in tourism relations with China - the implementation of the “China Ready” concept in Azerbaijan and the expansion of marketing activities in the Chinese market. Fuad Naghiyev stressed that such initiatives and events will significantly contribute to the growth of mutual tourist flows between Azerbaijan and China, as well as further strengthen economic and cultural cooperation.
The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Lu Mei, stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, China–Azerbaijan relations have consistently developed in a dynamic and stable manner. He emphasized that relations based on friendship and mutual trust have strengthened further in recent years, and tourism has become one of the key areas of cooperation. The ambassador noted that today’s event is an important initiative aimed at the practical implementation of agreements reached at the level of heads of state, and that such events serve as a bridge between the tourism industries of China and Azerbaijan, creating new opportunities for collaboration.
The “China Visitors Summit” is an international platform organized annually in various countries with the participation of Chinese tourism companies to expand bilateral cooperation. At the event held in Baku for the first time, B2B meetings were planned between representatives of over 50 Chinese tourism companies and the local tourism industry, along with discussions on future cooperation prospects. Within the framework of the event, visits of Chinese tourism companies to the districts of Shamakhi, Gabala, Shaki, and Gakh are planned, with the aim of showcasing the regional tourism potential.
It should be noted that in 2024, the number of inbound visitors from China to Azerbaijan increased by 94% compared to 2023, reaching 44,798. During the period of January-October 2025, more than 57,000 foreign visitors from China travelled to Azerbaijan - a 49% increase compared to the same period of 2024.
Over the past two years, large-scale promotion and marketing activities have been carried out to expand tourism cooperation with China. This included the signing of memorandums of cooperation with platforms such as Qyer.com, Qunar, and Trip.com Group. The Azerbaijan Tourism Board has promoted the country’s tourism potential at “COTTM 2023”, “GITF 2024”, and “ITB China 2025” exhibitions, as well as during presentations in various Chinese cities. Regular meetings were held with Chinese tourism companies, while Azerbaijan’s active promotion was conducted on platforms such as WeChat, Weibo, Qunar, C-trip, Fliggy, Douyin, and Little Red Book, alongside the organization of blogger visits. For next year, broader media campaigns, familiarization trips, and a series of presentation events in different Chinese cities are planned.
