Category: Azer News

China’s top diplomat condemned on Sunday the war in the Middle East and urged the United States to iron out its differences with Beijing, AzerNEWS reports, citing Arab News.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a press conference in the Chinese capital that the war, which was sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, ‘should never have happened.’

‘A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle,’ he told reporters.

He was speaking during China’s annual political gathering, which began this week, known as the ‘Two Sessions.’

The parallel meetings of China’s parliament and political consultative body are closely watched for clues as to the priorities of top leaders, in the face of a precarious geopolitical landscape

Wang addressed a range of issues, including a trade war with the United States, regional tensions in the South China Sea, as well as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

‘This year is indeed a big year for Sino-US relations,’ Wang said.

‘Manage differences’

Ties between China and the United States have been strained since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, followed by a trade war that saw the two countries impose tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s products.

‘We observe certain country erecting tariff barriers and pursuing decoupling and supply chain disruption,’ Wang said on Sunday.

‘These actions are akin to trying to extinguish a fire with fuel. Ultimately, they will backfire and harm itself.’

While China and the United States ‘cannot change each other,’ he said, ‘we can change the way we interact with each other.’

Wang urged both sides to ‘create a suitable environment, manage existing differences, and eliminate unnecessary interference.’

But a wide range of disagreements remain.

Beijing has blasted US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, with which it has diplomatic and trade ties.

It has in particular condemned the killing of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Wang also maintained that China’s relations with Moscow, which have been criticized by Western countries for sustaining the war in Ukraine, remained ‘steadfast and unshakeable.’

China ‘gym’

China has sought to profit off Trump’s volatile foreign policies, positioning itself as a reliable alternative to once traditional US allies.

Leaders from France, Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom, among others, have flocked to Beijing, recoiling from Trump’s bid to seize Greenland and tariff threats against fellow NATO members.

Wang welcomed the visits on Sunday, saying ‘we have noticed that more and more insightful Europeans agree that China is not a competitor, but a global partner.’

‘We welcome our European friends to step out of the ‘small attic’ of protectionism and come to the ‘gym’ of the Chinese market, where they can strengthen their muscles and enhance their competitiveness,’ he said.

In the spirit of warming relations, China has doled out visa-free travel agreements to around 50 countries including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Beijing has also agreed to reduced tariffs with Ottawa and London in their exports to China.

Wang also addressed relations between China and Japan, which have been locked in a spat after comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on self-ruled Taiwan.

Takaichi’s comments enraged Beijing, which views Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

Wang emphasized on Sunday that Beijing ‘will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan . from China once again.’

He warned Japan against ‘repeating the same disastrous mistakes,’ adding that China ‘will never allow anyone to stand up for colonialism,’ in an apparent reference to Tokyo’s actions during World War II.

The issue of Taiwan, he insisted, is ‘at the heart of China’s core interests’ and ‘a red line that must not be crossed or trampled on.’

‘For the foreseeable future, China will continue to be the growth engine of the world,’ Erik Solheim, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations said.

According to a government work report submitted Thursday to China’s top legislature for deliberation, the country targets an economic growth of 4.5 percent to 5 percent this year and will strive for better in practice.

This figure surpasses the IMF’s growth projections of 3.3% for the global economy and 4.2% for emerging and developing economies in 2026.

‘Number is one thing, and quality is not to be overlooked. As China transitions toward high-quality development, it implies translating growth into tangible income gains, improved access to public services, and the widespread adoption of advanced technologies,’ Tianchen Xu, Senior Economist from the Economist Intelligence Unit said.

AI: magnet for global investors

In 2025, China’s output of industrial robots and integrated circuits rose 28% and 10.9%, respectively, according to the government work report.

Data from OpenRouter, the world’s largest API aggregation platform for large models, show that the total token consumption of the top ten models on the platform has exceeded 28.7 trillion as of the end of February. Among them, Chinese models contributed over 14.69 trillion, marking the first time in history that the monthly token call share has exceeded 50%.

According to Xu, while AI has been a major consumer of power, China has been rapidly expanding its electricity generation capacity over the past few years, including renewable energy. This expansion will ensure that China’s AI development is supported by an adequate electricity supply. Moreover, it is likely that China will be able to offer AI services to global users at a lower cost. With this advantage, China could potentially secure a dominant or even majority share of the global AI market.

‘Attracted by Chinese technologies, there has been a fundamental reassessment of Chinese asset over late 2024 and throughout 2025,’ Xu observed.

The MSCI China Index rose 31.4% in 2025, outperforming global markets. ‘Much of this rally was driven by innovation-led themes, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence. As China’s innovation ecosystem now extends beyond AI into areas such as robotics, autonomous driving, next-generation mobility, and advanced manufacturing, the momentum would continue,’ according to Muhammad Faran Khan, Associate Director of KTrade Securities, Pakistan.

The government work report proposes to promote the commercial and large-scale application of AI in key industries and fields and support the construction of open-source AI communities. A new batch of smart factories and intelligent supply chains will also be built.

Consumption market: vast opportunities

In the next decade or so, China’s middle-income group is likely to exceed 800 million people, representing the best application scenario for the current technological revolution and industrial transformation, according to Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress at a press conference Wednesday.

Bernardo Mendia, Board Advisor at Young Entrepreneurs Association of the EU, Secretary General of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCILC) highlighted enterprises’ appetite for long-term integration into Chinese value chains.

‘The engagement of Portuguese businesses with the Chinese market is undergoing a profound maturation. We are moving past the era of simple transactional trade into a phase defined by strategic industrial presence. While the readiness for partnership remains high, it has evolved from a general curiosity into a targeted search for technological and capital synergy. Portuguese companies increasingly recognize that to succeed in China, they must offer something truly worth buying-value that is competitive not just on price, but on specialized quality and innovation,’ he said.

‘Beyond large corporations, the opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expanding through digital channels. China is the world’s largest e-commerce market, and cross-border e-commerce allows international SMEs to enter the market with lower risk and without the need for a physical local presence. We see a growing niche for gourmet food products, specialized lifestyle brands, and management consulting services,’ Mendia said.

In 2025, total retail sales of consumer goods in China exceeded 50 trillion yuan for the first time, contributing 52% to economic growth. Lou revealed that that the country will formulate laws on social assistance, medical security and childcare services this year, and promote the allocation of more resources to areas related to people’s livelihoods so that people are able, willing and confident to spend.

China, US: towards broader space for cooperation

On the Wednesday press conference, Lou said that China stands ready to strengthen communication with the United States at all levels and through various channels to create broader space for cooperation between the world’s two largest economies. At the same time, China has its own principles and red lines, and will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests.

According to China’s customs, trade between China and the United States recorded 4.01 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for 8.8 percent of China’s total foreign trade. U.S. statistics show that in the first ten months of 2025, bilateral trade stood at $373.64 billion, representing 7.8 percent of overall U.S. trade.

The composition of trade is undergoing a significant shift. High value-added and technology-intensive products are now the main engines of growth in China’s exports to the U.S., with electronic equipment, machinery and electrical products, and photovoltaic modules leading the expansion.

According to Xu, as the US looks to strengthen its manufacturing sector, economic cooperation with China, the world’s largest producer, is necessary.

Last month, the 20th anniversary event of the U.S.-China Commercial Matchmaking Program was held in Beijing.

Wang Wenshuai, a spokesperson for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said earlier this month that the Council will continue to strengthen industrial and supply chain cooperation with the U.S. by making full use of platforms such as the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) and the U.S.-China Commercial Matchmaking Program (CMP). He revealed the upcoming CISCE will feature a stronger presence from leading U.S. companies, along with prominent figures from business, government, and academia. In the expo’s AI section, Chinese and American AI firms will share the same stage. Wang also underlined promoting cooperation between the two countries’ business communities in emerging sectors including the digital economy, biopharmaceuticals, and new energy vehicles.

‘As of now, CCPIT has approved 119 activities for Chinese enterprises to participate in U.S.-based exhibitions in 2026, of which 30 had been carried out by February,’ Wang said.

Solheim highlighted the necessity of bilateral cooperation in renewable energy. ‘China is the indispensable nation for the green transition, producing over 60% of green technologies-up to 90% in solar alone. Its new energy products are a global public good, aligning with the collective goal of sustainability. Any nation aiming for a green future needs to partner with China to achieve this, including the United States,’ he said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon on Saturday that the country would face the ‘full price’ if attacks by Hezbollah persist.

As reported by AzerNEWS, speaking alongside Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Katz directed his remarks at Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, urging Lebanon to ‘disarm Hezbollah’ or risk retaliatory measures. Katz emphasized that Israel does not seek territorial gains from Lebanon, framing the warning solely as a response to security threats.

The statement comes amid a period of escalating Israeli military actions against Hezbollah, signaling heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and raising concerns about potential regional instability.

The United Kingdom plans to present the prototype of its first hypersonic missile by 2030, according to the country’s deputy defense secretary, AzerNEWS reports.

Luke Pollard said in a written response that the hypersonic program of the UK Ministry of Defence is targeting the development of a demonstration weapon by the end of the decade.

According to Pollard, the program is part of broader efforts to strengthen the United Kingdom’s next-generation defense capabilities as global competition over advanced weapons technologies intensifies.

Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that London plans to allocate £400 million in 2026 for the development of new types of precision-guided and hypersonic weapons in cooperation with several European countries.

The investment reflects growing interest among Western nations in hypersonic systems-missiles capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5-amid rapid advancements in such technologies by global military powers.

Manchester United are closely monitoring Nottingham Forest and Ivory Coast national football team defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré as the Premier League club looks to strengthen its midfield options.

According to reports, Nottingham Forest are demanding a higher transfer fee for the player, whom they signed in 2023 for around pound 35 million.

During the current season, Sangaré has made 32 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing three assists. The midfielder remains under contract with Nottingham Forest until the summer of 2028.

It is worth noting that Sangaré was part of the Ivory Coast national team that won the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.

Azerbaijan has welcomed the statement by the United States Department of State condemning drone attacks carried out by Iran against Azerbaijani territory and expressing solidarity with the country.

According to AzerNEWS, cited a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani side highly appreciates Washington’s position.

The ministry noted that the statement demonstrates the United States’ support for its partners on the international stage.

It added that the US stance is fully consistent with the spirit and provisions of the Strategic Partnership Charter signed between the governments of Azerbaijan and the United States on 10 February this year.

The ministry also emphasised that many countries have expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan during the current period of heightened tensions, and Baku is grateful for their support.

However, the statement underlined that backing from the United States – described as one of the world’s most powerful nations – carries particular significance.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry concluded by expressing its appreciation to Washington for what it described as a principled position.

Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani has claimed that Iranian forces captured several American soldiers, accusing Washington of attempting to hide the incident.

In a message posted on X on Saturday, Larijani said he had received reports that multiple US troops had been taken prisoner. He alleged that US authorities were instead describing the soldiers as having been killed in action.

‘Despite their futile efforts, the truth cannot remain hidden for long,’ Larijani wrote.

The United States quickly rejected the allegation. A spokesperson for United States Central Command (CENTCOM) told Al Jazeera that no American soldiers had been captured and described the claim as false.

The spokesman said Iran’s statement was another example of what Washington called ‘misleading and deceptive’ narratives from Tehran.

Tensions across the region have intensified since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched large-scale air strikes against Iran. The attacks reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians.

The conflict has sparked widespread instability in the region, with Tehran carrying out retaliatory strikes against US-linked targets and military facilities.

Every year on 8 March, International Women’s Day, Azerbaijan joins the global community in celebrating the achievements, resilience and contributions of women in society. In Azerbaijan, however, the day carries a particularly meaningful historical dimension. It reflects not only respect for women, but also a national tradition of recognising their role in shaping the country’s social, cultural and political life.

Azerbaijan holds a remarkable place in the history of women’s rights. In 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic became the first secular Muslim-majority country to grant women the right to vote, long before many European nations did so. At a time when women in several Western states were still struggling for suffrage, Azerbaijani women had already been recognised as equal participants in political life. This milestone demonstrated a progressive vision of statehood and a commitment to equality that continues to influence the country today.

The advancement of women in Azerbaijan was also strongly supported by enlightened philanthropists and intellectuals. Among the most prominent was Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, a renowned oil magnate and philanthropist who believed that education was the foundation of national progress. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Taghiyev financed the establishment of the first girls’ gymnasium in Baku. At a time when educating girls was not widely accepted in the region, this institution opened new doors for Azerbaijani women, enabling them to pursue knowledge and professional careers.

Education proved transformative. The girls who studied in these early schools became teachers, writers, doctors and cultural figures who helped modernise society. Taghiyev’s vision demonstrated a powerful truth: empowering women through education strengthens the entire nation.

Today, Azerbaijani women play a vital role across all spheres of public life. They are active in government institutions, academia, business, science and the arts. Women serve in parliament, lead companies, teach in universities and contribute to the country’s cultural and economic development. Their participation reflects the broader transformation of Azerbaijani society, where education and professional achievement are widely valued.

Beyond their professional accomplishments, women remain central to the moral and intellectual foundations of Azerbaijani families and communities. In many ways, the success of society begins at home. An educated, thoughtful and determined woman often becomes the guiding force behind a family’s progress. Her influence shapes future generations, instilling values of knowledge, responsibility and ambition.

International Women’s Day therefore serves as both a celebration and a reminder. It honours the women who have contributed to Azerbaijan’s past achievements while recognising the importance of continuing to support equality, education and opportunity.

From the early pioneers of women’s suffrage to the leaders and professionals of today, Azerbaijani women have played an essential role in building the country’s modern identity. Their strength, intellect and determination remain one of Azerbaijan’s greatest sources of progress and inspiration.

The Foreign Minister of Oman, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, on Sunday called for coordinated Arab diplomatic efforts and increased pressure to halt the ongoing military confrontation involving the United States and Israel against Iran.

According to a statement issued by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the social media platform X (social media platform), Al Busaidi raised the issue during talks with Arab ambassadors in Muscat. He warned that the escalation could have serious consequences for regional stability and emphasised the need to safeguard both regional interests and civilian populations.

His remarks come as hostilities continue between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other. Iran has responded to the strikes with missile and drone attacks aimed at Israel as well as targets in several Arab states.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shared a post on her social media accounts on the occasion of March 8 – International Women’s Day.

The post reads: ‘I wish every woman robust health, a wonderful mood, inexhaustible love, joy, and family happiness!’