XI Jinping announces that he “supports” Armenia's accession “and Azerbaijan at the Shanghai cooperation organization after the agreed peace agreement.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his support for the accession of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (OCS), during the meetings he had on Sunday, August 31, in Tianjin with the leaders of both countries, following the peace treaty agreed by the two states.

The Chinese leader said Beijing supports the accession of both countries at Oc.Foto Profimedia

In his separate meetings with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Paşinian and Azer President Ilham Aliev, Xi Jinping said Beijing argues the accession of both countries at OCS, according to statements published by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to EFE, quoted by Agerpres.

The Chinese president pleaded during meetings to strengthen cooperation in various fields with both countries in the Caucasus.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Paşinian and Azer President Ilham Aliev are in Tianjin to participate on Sunday and Monday at the 25th summit of the Shanghai cooperation organization, which are present, among other leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Armenia and Azerbaijan undertake to permanently cease the struggles”

On August 8, Paşinian and Aliev signed an agreement at the White House seting out a roadmap to put an end to almost four decades of armed conflict.

“Armenia and Azerbaijan undertake to permanently cease the strugglesto open trade, allow travel, restore diplomatic relations and respect each other sovereignty and territorial integrity“, said US President Donald Trump.

The peace agreement is waiting for a constitutional referendum, in which the Armenians must eliminate from the preamble to their constitution all the references to the Nagorno-Karabah territory, an Azeri enclave inhabited by the Armenians and conquered by Baku in 2023.

Aliet and Paşinian will participate in the Beijing parade on September 3, which will mark 80 years from the end of World War II, where China will display its military power.

OCS members include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan, representing about 40% of the world's population. Also, the organization includes observing countries and dialogue partners, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, although both have expressed their desire to become full members.

OCS, unlike NATO, has no mutual defense clauses and presents itself as a forum for political, economic and security cooperation.