An interview with Chinese political scientist, Senior Research Fellow at the China Center for Globalization, Founder and Chairman of China Cities Bluebook Consulting, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics, and Chairman of Asia Narratives Channel, Einar Tangen.

- How do you assess the role of the South Caucasus, particularly Azerbaijan, in the new phase of the Belt and Road Initiative? What priorities does Beijing see for this region over the next 5–10 years?

– The South Caucasus, and especially Azerbaijan, plays a strategically important role in the new phase of the Belt and Road Initiative. This region, located at the crossroads of East and West, is regaining the significance it once had during the era of the ancient Silk Road and is becoming a crucial link in the development of Eurasia’s multilayered connectivity infrastructure.

China views the South Caucasus not merely as a transit route but also as a promising area for the development of mutually beneficial economic and investment cooperation. Key focus areas include the development of transport and logistics hubs, energy projects, the digital economy, agriculture, and green technologies. All of these align with China’s concept of "win-win cooperation" and serve the goals of building a "community with a shared future for mankind," as outlined in China's Global Initiatives on Security, Development, and Civilization.

Thus, over the next 5–10 years, the South Caucasus may evolve into not just a link in the transport chain but a full-fledged partner in deepened regional cooperation, serving the interests of all involved parties.

– Can Azerbaijan become not just a transit country, but also a regional hub for processing, logistics, and service support within Chinese supply chains? What would be required to achieve this?

– Thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has significant potential to play a more active role in the next stage of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the next 5–10 years, China's priorities for the South Caucasus region can be broadly divided into three main areas.

First, the development of transport connectivity. This involves modernizing existing infrastructure — including roads, railways, ports, and logistics hubs — to ensure the smooth and efficient movement of goods between China, Europe, and regional countries. Azerbaijan holds a key position within the Middle Corridor, which is becoming increasingly important for diversifying transportation routes.

Second, China is interested in supporting economic diversification in the region. While Azerbaijan has traditionally been strong in the energy sector, it is actively developing its non-oil economy. In this context, the creation of logistics hubs, industrial parks, and processing zones capable of adding value to goods transiting through the country is particularly important. These efforts align closely with Azerbaijan’s goal of becoming a regional center for trade and logistics.

Third, green development is emerging as a crucial area. Joint projects in renewable energy — especially considering Azerbaijan's significant potential in solar and wind power — are seen as highly promising. Developing efficient energy networks to distribute generated power is also vital. This direction not only contributes to a sustainable future but also opens up new opportunities for technology transfer and deeper economic cooperation.

– What key steps must Azerbaijan take to transform from a transit country into a full-fledged regional hub in global value chains — in logistics, processing, and services?

– Azerbaijan’s potential to move beyond a transit role and become a full-fledged regional hub in global value chains — particularly in logistics, processing, and services — is quite realistic. However, several key conditions must be met:

First and foremost, it is essential to continue large-scale investments in modern infrastructure — not only in transportation but also in digital networks, logistics complexes, and streamlined customs procedures.

Second, creating a favorable business environment is crucial. This includes simplifying regulatory frameworks, ensuring transparency, combating corruption, and establishing incentives and a reliable legal foundation to attract both domestic and foreign investments.
Third, Azerbaijan needs to develop its human capital, especially in areas such as logistics management, international trade operations, and digital technologies. Preparing a qualified workforce and fostering a flexible, digitally literate labor market are necessary steps for transitioning to a higher-value-added economic model.

Finally, strengthening regional cooperation and harmonizing standards will be critical. This would help position the South Caucasus as a competitive logistics corridor and production center compared to alternative routes.

– What is China's strategic assessment of the South Caucasus amid growing global geopolitical polarization? What opportunities and challenges does Beijing see in Azerbaijan and the region as a whole?

– China's strategic assessment of the South Caucasus fully takes into account the intensifying geopolitical polarization worldwide. The region presents both opportunities and certain challenges.

On the opportunity side, the South Caucasus holds significant potential to become a stable and reliable bridge between East and West. In this context, Azerbaijan can play a key role by strengthening its economic influence and enhancing its resilience to external geopolitical shocks. It is important to note that Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is aimed at maintaining balanced relations with major global power centers, reflecting the realities of an increasingly multipolar world.

As for challenges, they stem from both internal and external factors — ranging from historically complex conflicts to the overlapping interests of multiple external actors, each pursuing its own agenda. In such an environment, effective engagement requires a flexible and balanced approach, based on the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and a focus on shared development goals.

By emphasizing mutually beneficial economic cooperation, it is possible to strengthen trust, build sustainable connections, and thereby contribute to the region’s stability and peaceful development.

– How does China perceive the growing influence of Turkey in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, particularly in the context of the activities of the Organization of Turkic States? How realistic do you consider the prospect of a China–Turkey–Azerbaijan strategic partnership?

– China's view of Turkey’s growing influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia through the mechanisms of the Organization of Turkic States reflects both an understanding of its historical roots and recognition of modern geoeconomic trends. Turkey is actively strengthening its presence in the region, relying on cultural and linguistic ties as well as a pragmatic approach to fostering regional cooperation.

In Beijing, initiatives aimed at enhancing stability, economic growth, and regional integration are generally viewed positively, provided they respect the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

The prospect of a deeper and more institutionalized partnership between China, Turkey, and Azerbaijan is certainly of interest, particularly in the economic sphere. The three sides could focus on developing joint infrastructure projects, deepening trade relations, and coordinating efforts within transport and logistics initiatives. Such a format could also find expression within broader platforms such as BRICS+, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), or other regional cooperation mechanisms where China is actively engaged.

It is important to note that each of the three — Beijing, Ankara, and Baku — has its own strategic priorities. However, in areas like connectivity development, sustainable trade, and investment cooperation, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative, there is a clear overlap of interests.

In this context, open political dialogue, trust-building, and the search for balanced and pragmatic solutions that take into account the interests of all participants will play a crucial role in realizing the potential of such a partnership.

-What is China's position on the Zangezur Corridor and its potential impact on the transit architecture between Europe and Asia? Do you consider this route to be politically stable and economically promising?

– China views the Zangezur Corridor project through the lens of its potential to enhance regional connectivity and facilitate trade flows. In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly the Middle Corridor, this route could play an important role in creating an alternative overland link between Asia and Europe, bypassing congested and unstable routes.
Its successful implementation could significantly reduce delivery times, lower logistics costs, and strengthen economic interdependence among countries in the region.

From an economic standpoint, the corridor appears highly promising. It offers opportunities for developing new transport and logistics chains, stimulating border infrastructure and trade hub development, creating additional jobs, and contributing to the economic diversification of involved countries, including Azerbaijan.

However, the political stability of the corridor is closely tied to the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Only through mutual recognition, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of a transparent and mutually acceptable mechanism for the corridor’s operation can it become a sustainable tool for regional development.In the long term, this would reinforce the resilience of Eurasia’s entire transit architecture and advance the realization of the "connected world" vision that underpins China’s external economic strategy.

– Against the backdrop of intensifying rivalry between China, Russia, the West, and Turkey, is a multipolar model of interaction possible in the South Caucasus — or is the region inevitably doomed to a struggle for spheres of influence?

– Amid growing global competition, a multipolar model of interaction in the South Caucasus not only seems possible but, from the perspective of long-term stability, is highly desirable.
The region holds such strategic significance — geopolitical, energy, transportation, and cultural — that domination by a single power is virtually impossible and would likely be destabilizing.

A multipolar approach, based on respecting the interests of all involved parties — China, Russia, the European Union, Iran, Turkey, and, of course, the states of the region themselves — opens the path toward more sustainable and balanced development. Such a model would reduce tensions, allow for competition through cooperation rather than confrontation, and create favorable conditions for implementing large-scale regional projects, from infrastructure to environmental initiatives.

China traditionally advocates for an international system based on equality, mutual respect, and the "win-win" principle. In this context, the South Caucasus could serve as a testing ground for constructive models of interaction, where balancing interests is prioritized over the dominance of any single power.

The realization of a multipolar model requires political will, open dialogue, and a readiness to seek compromise. If both external and internal actors adhere to these principles, the South Caucasus can avoid becoming an arena of conflict and instead emerge as a model of sustainable regional cooperation in an era of global transformation.

– Is the People's Republic of China ready to take on a more active role in security provision or mediation in post-conflict situations, such as the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia? How realistic is the concept of Chinese "humanitarian diplomacy" or "economic peacebuilding"?

– China is indeed striving to play a more active role in promoting regional stability and development. While the primary focus still remains on economic cooperation, Beijing recognizes that the sustainable success of the Belt and Road Initiative is not possible without a secure and peaceful environment.

In this context, supporting the peaceful settlement of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy will remain a priority and could be expanded through platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The concepts of "humanitarian diplomacy" and "economic peacebuilding" are viewed by China as tools to build trust and prevent future conflicts. This primarily involves providing development assistance, encouraging economic interdependence, and promoting people-to-people exchanges. Beijing believes that economic prosperity forms the most solid foundation for long-term peace.

– In your view, what is China's strategy for balancing interests with Russia and Iran in the South Caucasus region? Does Beijing see this interaction as an element of competition or, rather, as a necessity for coordinating efforts in the emerging multipolar world?

– Understanding the future of the South Caucasus is impossible without analyzing the policies and projects of the past decade. In the case of Azerbaijan, there are a number of landmark initiatives actively involving China, including the construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, participation in the development of Middle Corridor infrastructure, the establishment of a multimodal cargo terminal at the Port of Alat, the implementation of the Gobustan solar power project, the offshore wind energy project in the Caspian Sea, as well as agreements in digital economy, aerospace, industrial cooperation, agriculture, agricultural machinery production, and the expansion of aluminum capacities.

These and similar projects in other South Caucasus countries clearly demonstrate the strategic depth and long-term nature of China's intentions. From the perspective of foreign policy strategy, China prefers to avoid direct competition, especially with key partners like Russia and Iran.

Instead, Beijing seeks to develop a coordinated approach based on the principles of mutual respect and non-confrontation. In the context of the emerging multipolarity, China views the South Caucasus not as a zone of rivalry but as a space for synergizing efforts — particularly in the fields of transportation, energy, and trade integration. This approach aligns with China’s broader strategy of deepening economic interconnectivity and promoting sustainable development as a foundation for regional stability.