China supports Azerbaijan's cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to work together for security, stability, development and prosperity in the region, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.

Azerbaijan is now one of the dialogue partners of the SCO.

During the meeting, Xi said 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and that China supports Azerbaijan's development path independently chosen by its people.

He called on both sides to view and plan for bilateral relations from a strategic height, increase strategic mutual trust, strengthen mutual support, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and work for steady, in-depth and practical cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

Xi also said China welcomes Azerbaijan to join China in implementing the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI).

Both countries should also expand trade, improve the trade mix, increase the number of China-Europe Express freight train services, and ensure unimpeded international supply chains, he said.

Xi also expressed confidence that the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Azerbaijan enjoys broad prospects.

For his part, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and China are true strategic partners, that the two sides maintain close communication in international affairs and that bilateral cooperation is advancing steadily.

Azerbaijan adheres to the one-China policy, firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, firmly opposes any actions that interfere in China's internal affairs or split China, and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said.

The Azerbaijani side supports the GSI and GDI proposed by the Chinese side and will actively engage in Belt and Road cooperation with the Chinese side, he said.