Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov will arrive in Beijing today for a visit and exchange views with Chinese leaders on various issues, among which economic and trade cooperation will be a focus, an Azerbaijani diplomat said in Beijing Wednesday.

Azerbaijani ambassador to China Yashar Aliyev told Xinhua that Azerbaijan and China have established good cooperation in political fields and share similar views on international issues.

The major task for the two countries at present is to promote bilateral economic and trade relationship, said Aliyev, noting that Mammedyarov's visit will also be a preparation tour for a future visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The ambassador said trade between the countries has increased rapidly in the last two to three years. China imported oil and relevant products worth US$40 million from Azerbaijan last year, and there are four Chinese companies in petroleum exploitation and development business in Azerbaijan, he said.

According to Aliyev, Mammedyarov will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing and meet with Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju.

The two sides will discuss political, economic and cultural cooperation "to further strengthen bilateral ties," Aliyev said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2005)