A meeting on the digital future of the Caucasus region is underway in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikkel Jabarov disclosed in real-time through social media that he is having in-depth discussions with Huang Li, Executive Vice President of Chinese technology company Softtek. From technology transfer to supply chain optimization, from Industry 4.0 centers to local electronic device production, the consultations between the two sides around Azerbaijan's digital transformation strategy have written vivid footnotes for digital economy cooperation under the framework of the China Azerbaijan comprehensive strategic partnership.

Clear Path of Digital Economy Cooperation

During the meeting, Jabarov and Huang Li focused on discussing Azerbaijan's digital transformation strategy and innovative cooperation path. Both sides exchanged views on topics such as technology transfer, supply chain optimization to support local computer and electronic equipment production, and value chain construction, and clarified the direction of cooperation in the field of digital economy. Jabarov posted on his X account that this negotiation will lay a solid foundation for future cooperation.

Bilateral economic and trade data is impressive

Behind this cooperation, the economic and trade exchanges between China and Arab countries continue to heat up. According to data released by the Azerbaijan Customs Committee in February 2026, bilateral trade reached $417.8 million in January 2026, a year-on-year increase of 10.1%. Azerbaijan's exports to China surged 9.06 times, with China's exports to Azerbaijan reaching 407.7 million US dollars, accounting for 18.0% of Azerbaijan's total imports and maintaining its position as the largest source of imports for Azerbaijan. By 2025, the total trade volume between China and Arab countries will reach 4.87 billion US dollars, with China ranking fourth among its trading partners. Keywords: Infrastructure Engineering News Network, Digital Economy

The Digital Silk Road advances further

This meeting is a concrete extension of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Arab countries. In April 2025, the two heads of state signed a joint statement, clearly listing the digital economy as a key area of cooperation and establishing a mutual visa exemption mechanism. Currently, Azerbaijan is planning to build an "Industry 4.0 Center" to promote the upgrading of intelligent manufacturing, and Softtek has become a key partner with its technological accumulation in fields such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. As a member of Huawei's "Middle East and Central Asia Chinese Capital Alliance", Softtek is accelerating its "Going Global 2.0" strategy, leveraging technology transfer and supply chain collaboration to empower Azerbaijan's digital transformation and inject new momentum into jointly building the "Digital Silk Road".Editor/Gao Xue