The Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani:.Azerbaijan is divided into one autonomous republic, 66 regions and 78 cities, with the capital ofBaku。As of May 1, 2023, Azerbaijan has a population of 10.1435 million.[1][18]
Paleolithic AgeIn the late period, there were signs of human settlement in Azerbaijan, and there were many cave relics.In the 9th century BC, the Scythian people settled here, and later, the ancient IranMidi KingdomControl.Since the 6th century BC,Persian Empire Dominated the region.
From 642 AD, it was controlled by the Arab Empire.
From the 9th century to the 16th century, there were feudal countries such as Hilfan.The Azerbaijani nation was formed in the 11th and 13th centuries.
During the 13th and 16th centuries, it was invaded and divided by Turks, Mongols and Persians.
From the 16th century to the 18th centurySafavid EmpireRule.
In the middle of the 18th century, it was divided into a dozen small feudal countries.
In the 1830s, Northern Azerbaijan (now the Republic of Azerbaijan) was incorporatedTsarist Russia。
In November 1917, the Soviet regime was established——Baku Commune。
On May 28, 1918, the Arab bourgeoisie announced the establishment of the "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan".
On December 5, 1936, it was changed into a republic directly under the Soviet Union.
On February 6, 1991, the country was renamed the "Republic of Azerbaijan", and officially became independent on October 18.[4]The leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on November 9, 2020, announcing thatNagorno KarabakhRegion fromMoscow TimeAt 0:00 on the 10th (5:00 on the 10th Beijing time), there was a complete ceasefire.According to the statement, Azerbaijan and Armenia will exchange prisoners of war, other detainees and the remains of the victims, and Russia will deploy peacekeeping forces in the Nagorno Karabakh region.[1]According to the ceasefire agreement, Armenia willKerbajar District、Agdam District、Lachin DistrictTo Azerbaijan.[5]On November 16, 2020, Azerbaijani President Aliyev and the First Lady personally drove to inspectArmeniaReclaimed Naka area.[5]
On December 1, 2020, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Lachin region of Naka was officially handed over to Azerbaijan on the same day, while the Lachin corridor was controlled by Russian peacekeepers.[6]
On May 23, 2022, Azerbaijan and Armenia respectively set up committees on the demarcation of the border between the two countries on May 23, 2022 to start the demarcation work between the two countries.[17]
On December 26, 2023 local time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan announced that the two diplomatic personnel of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan were unwelcome and asked the relevant personnel to leave the country within 48 hours.[23]
Azerbaijan is located in the southeast of Transcaucasia at the junction of Eurasia, 44 ° to 52 ° E and 38 ° to 42 ° N, covering an area of 86600 square kilometers.It is bordered by the Caspian Sea in the east, Iran and Turkey in the south, Russia in the north, Georgia and Armenia in the west, and the Great and Small Caucasus Mountains pass through the whole territory from west to east, and the remaining veins eventually sink into the Caspian Sea.Its enclave, the Autonomous Republic of Nasi Chevan, is surrounded by Armenia, Iran and Turkey.The total length of Azerbaijan's land border is 2657 kilometers, and the coastline is 456 kilometers.[18]
topographic features
In Azerbaijan, 50% of the area is mountains and 40% is lowlands.The northeast is the Great Caucasus Mountains, the southwest is the Little Caucasus Mountains, and the southeast is the Taresh Mountain.The lowlands and valley plains are mainly distributed in the middle.The main river is the Kura River.[7]
Climatic characteristics
The climate of Azerbaijan is characterized by diversification, with dry climate in the middle and east, and abundant rainfall in the southeast.The capital Baku is close to the Caspian Sea, and it is warm in winter. The average temperature is 4 ℃ in January and 27.3 ℃ in July.The temperature in the northern and western mountainous areas is relatively low, with an average temperature of 12 ℃ in summer and - 9 ℃ in winter.The annual rainfall in most areas of the territory is about 500 mm, but in a few areas, such as the high-altitude area of the Caucasus Mountains and the Liankelan Plain in the southeast, the annual rainfall can reach about 1000 mm.In most areas, summer is dry season with little rain;The rainy season lasts from the end of autumn to the next spring, with snow falling in some areas.The Apsheren Peninsula is windy all year round. It is said that Baku, the capital, means "windy city".[2]
natural resources
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Azerbaijan is rich in oil and natural gas resources, mainly distributed inApsheren PeninsulaAnd the continental shelf of the Caspian Sea.The proven oil reserves in the Caspian Sea region of Azerbaijan are 2 billion tons, and the geological reserves are about 4 billion tons. The oil is characterized by shallow burial and few impurities.The proven reserves of natural gas are 2.55 trillion cubic meters, and the prospective reserves are 6 trillion cubic meters.In addition, there are iron, molybdenum, copper, gold and other metal mineral deposits, as well as rich non-metallic and mineral water resources.
Azerbaijan is rich in animal resources.Precious animals such as East Caucasian wild goat, Asia Minor argali, Caucasian rock antelope and roe deer mostly live in the Caucasus Mountains.
There are about 4000 kinds of plants in Azerbaijan, many of which can be used as medicine.The main tree species are oak, beech, hornbeam and various shrubs. There are many precious tree species in the south of the Taresh Mountain slope bordering Iran, such as boxwood, acacia, and yew called "permanent tree".[2]
On October 2, 2021, the President of AzerbaijanOleksandr Aliyev Said that the country had identifiednatural gasThe reserve reaches 2.6 trillion cubic meters, enough for its own use and export for at least 100 years.[15]
administrative division
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Political district
Azerbaijan Administrative Region
Azerbaijan is divided into one autonomous republic, 66 regions and 78 cities.[1]
Note: The table shows the administrative divisions of Azerbaijan.
capitalBakuIt is the largest city, the national political, economic and cultural center, located in the bay on the south side of the Abu Shearon Peninsula, and the largest port along the Caspian Sea and the largest city and shipping, aviation and railway hub in the Caucasus region.Grand Baku consists of Baku City and 40 satellite cities (towns), with an area of 2192 square kilometers and a population of 2.3031 million (as of the beginning of 2022).[1]The population of Grand Baku has reached 1/4 of the national population and 1/2 of the national urban population.
Baku is a famous wind city. It is windy all the year round, especially in autumn. It is dry in summer with little rain, and the precipitation is concentrated in autumn and winter.
Baku is an ancient city with a long history and a famous city on the ancient Silk Road.Baku is famous for oil.Driven by the petroleum industry, Baku has made great progress in petroleum machinery, light industry, food industry, instrument manufacturing, chemical industry, electronics and other industries.
Second largest cityGanjia City, located in the west of Azerbaijan, about 60 kilometers away from the Georgian border.There are more than 300000 permanent residents.
The third largest citySumgait, 30 kilometers northwest of Baku.It is the main industrial base of Azerbaijan, with chemical industry as the main industry.The population is about 300000.
The permanent population of other cities is less than 100000.
National symbol
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Country name
The Republic of Azerbaijan,Азербайджанская Рeспублика），It is called Azerbaijan for short.[8]
national flag
Flag of Azerbaijan It is rectangular, and the ratio of length to width is 2:1.The flag is composed of three parallel and equal rectangles, light blue, red and green, from top to bottom.There is a crescent moon and a white star in the middle of the red part.It was put into use on January 25, 1991.Blue is the traditional color of Turks, red is a symbol of short life, and green is a symbol of Islam. The stars and the moon show that Islam is the main belief in the country. The star with eight corners is a unique pattern in the Caucasus, representing eight different nations.[1]
national emblem
Azerbaijani national emblem
Azerbaijani national emblemIt is composed of a concentric circle of blue, red and green colors of the national flag. In the center is an octagonal star, on which the burning flame leaps, symbolizing the fire of freedom and independence lit on the land of Azerbaijan.The lower part is decorated with golden ears of wheat and green cotton leaves, symbolizing rich natural resources.[8]
national anthem
National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Main idea of lyrics:
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan!
Oh, great country, your child is a hero!
Our life is ready to offer for you,
Our blood is ready to flow for you.
The tricolor flag flies respectfully!
The tricolor flag flies respectfully!
We have sacrificed millions of people,
You have become a battle field.
Every soldier who dies is a hero.
You are thriving day by day.
My life is always dedicated to you,
My love for you is hidden in my heart for a thousand and one times.
To keep you safe,
Because your flag is respected,
All young people volunteered.
beautiful rivers and mountains of a country!beautiful rivers and mountains of a country!
Azerbaijan!Azerbaijan!
Azerbaijan!Azerbaijan![9]
Population and nationality
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population
According to the data of the National Statistical Commission of Azerbaijan, as of January 1, 2018, the total population of Azerbaijan was 9.96 million.[1]The urban population accounts for about 53.2%.The permanent population of Baku, the capital, is about 3 million.The second largest city accounts for more than 300000 permanent residents in Jia City;Sumgait, the third largest city, has a population of about 300000;The permanent population of other cities is below 100000.The number of Chinese in Azerbaijan is small, mainly concentrated in Baku region.
As of May 1, 2023, Azerbaijan has a population of 10.1435 million.
nation
Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic country, with a total of 43 ethnic groups, of which the Azerbaijani ethnic group accounts for 91.6%, the Lezgen ethnic group accounts for 2.0%, the Russian ethnic group accounts for 1.3%, the Armenian ethnic group accounts for 1.3%, and the Taresh ethnic group accounts for 1.3%.[4]
Politics
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regime
Azerbaijan implements the presidential system. The year 2000 was the year of parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, and the political struggle around parliamentary elections has intensified significantly.The ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party led by President Aliyev, has a deep social foundation, proper election strategy and outstanding political achievements. It won the parliamentary election held on November 5, 2000 by a clear advantage and once again became a party with more than half of the seats in the parliament.President Aliyev also further consolidated his ruling position through measures such as restructuring the cabinet, implementing amnesty and dialogue with the opposition parties.The opposition has held several large-scale protests and demonstrations, but their influence is declining due to the different opinions of various parties.
In 2001, Azerbaijan's political situation was basically stable.President Aliyev continued to take measures to rectify order, promote institutional reform, further strengthen the presidential power, and the social support rate continued to top the list.The social influence of the opposition has further declined.On October 18, Alonchong wished the tenth anniversary of the country's independence and on November 21, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party held its second national congress, which was a major event in Afghanistan's political life.At the Second National Congress of the New Arab Party, President Aliyev was re elected as the party's chairman, and his son Aliyev Jr. was elected as the first vice chairman of the party.
In 2002, Azerbaijan's political situation was stable.The government continues to be committed to economic and administrative reform, adjusting the economic structure, attracting foreign capital and improving people's lives.President Aliyev's position is stable. He further took measures to strengthen the ruling position of the "New Azerbaijan Party" led by him, split and weaken the opposition, and actively prepared for the presidential election in October 2003.The opposition has many internal contradictions and its social influence has further declined.
In 2012, the social and political situation in Afghanistan was generally stable.The authorities steadily promoted political and economic reform, fully implemented the social security system, strengthened legislation, repeatedly raised residents' wages and pensions, and increased support for vulnerable groups.Vigorously promote the construction of schools, theaters, stadiums, hospitals, airports, urban roads and other infrastructure to improve the employment level of residents.
constitution
The current Constitution of Azerbaijan was adopted by referendum on November 12, 1995.The Constitution stipulates the establishment of a democratic, legal and civilized secular country;The presidential system is implemented. The president is the head of state, the highest executive head and the commander in chief of the armed forces, who is directly elected by the whole people for a term of seven years;Separation of legislative, administrative and judicial powers.On August 24, 2002, some articles of the Constitution were amended by referendum, including changing the number of votes obtained by the president from 2/3 to more than half. Once the president is unable to perform his duties and confirmed by the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan, the president abdicates early, and the new presidential election is completed within three months.Before the election of a new President, the Prime Minister shall act as President.The parliamentary election has changed from the combination of the past majority system and the proportional system to a single majority system, and the list of political parties has been cancelled.On March 18, 2009, some provisions of the Constitution were supplemented and amended by a referendum, and the restriction that the president should not be re elected for more than two terms was lifted.
On September 28, 2016, the Arab Israeli referendum amended the Constitution, extending the term of office of the president from five years to seven years, establishing the first vice president and vice president positions, giving the president the power to dissolve parliament, removing the age limit for presidential candidates, and lowering the age threshold for senators.On February 21, 2017, Azerbaijani President Aliyev signed a decree appointing first lady Mekhliban Aliyeva as the first vice president of Azerbaijan.[18]
party
Implemented by Azerbaijanmulti-party systemThere are 41 legal political parties registered in the Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan.The main political parties are:
（1）ruling party (Партия "НовыйАбербайджан"): established on November 21, 1992.It has 81 district level organizations and nearly 6622 grass-roots organizations.As of January 2009, there were 470600 Party members, the largest political party in Afghanistan.Internally, it advocates the establishment of a democratic, rule of law, secular country and the development of a market economy;It advocates a pragmatic and balanced foreign policy.In the 2005 general election of the parliament, it won the majority again and maintained the position of the ruling party.The current President, Speaker, Prime Minister, most cabinet members and local officials of Afghanistan are members of the party.The first and second National Congresses were held in December 1999 and November 2001 respectively.In March 2005, the Third National Congress was held, and the current President Ilham Aliyev was elected as the chairman of the party.In August 2008, the fourth National Congress was held, and the party chairman, Ilyiev, was nominated to run for president again.In October of the same year, Il Aliyev was re elected President.
（2）Azerbaijan People's Front Party(Партия "НародныйфронтАбербайджана"): Founded in March 1989, it has more than 40000 members.He was the ruling party from May 1992 to June 1993 and is now one of the largest opposition parties in Afghanistan.The basic political orientation is freedom, human rights, democracy, private ownership, market economy, and the rule of law.It advocates to take Europe as the development direction and supports the accession to the EU.He has one seat in this parliament.The party chairman is Ali Krimli (АлиКЕРИМлИ).
（3）Musavat Party(Партия "Мусават"): It was established in 1911, and was prohibited from activities during the period of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan, and officially resumed activities in December 1992.It now has more than 40000 members.One of the largest opposition parties in Afghanistan.It advocates the equality of all people, the rule of law, the separation of three powers, the implementation of a market economy, and the democratic solution of various social problems.It has five seats in this parliament.The seventh congress was held in May 2006, and Isa Gambar (ИсаГАМБАР) was re elected as the party chairman.
（4）Azerbaijani National Independence Party(Партияна фионалянойне зависимостиАзерба джана): Founded in 1991, it has 19000 members now.Originally pro government, he joined the opposition after the 1998 presidential election.It advocates the establishment of a democratic, rule of law country and a civilized market, requires accelerating the reform of the market economy, and advocates focusing on western developed countries in diplomacy.The current chairman is Ayaz Rustamov (АжжРУСТАМОВ).
In addition, there are the Citizens' Unity PartyAzerbaijan Communist Party （Gaziyev, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan[20]）, Motherland Party, Social Happiness Party, Yordash Party, etc.
Dignitaries
presidentIliham Gaidar Ogre Aliyev, was elected for the first time in October 2003.In October 2008, October 2013, April 2018 and February 2024, he was re elected for four consecutive terms until 2031.[28]On February 8, 2024, according to the preliminary counting results released by the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan, Aliyev won the presidential election held on February 7 by an absolute advantage.On February 14, 2024, Aliyev was sworn in in the capital Baku.[24-25]
President of the National AssemblyOctay Sabir Ogre Asadov。Born on January 3, 1955 in Jiafa District, western Azerbaijan.In 1976, he graduated from Arab Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering.From 1979 to 1981, he was the chief engineer of the General Administration of Professional Design and Construction of Afghanistan.From 1981 to 1983, he was the chief technologist of the Health Technology Device Trust of Afghanistan.From 1983 to 1989, he served as the director of the First Bureau of the Afghanistan Health Technology Device Trust.From 1989 to 1996, he was the director of the Production Federation of the Afghanistan Health Technology Device Trust.From 1996 to 2004, he served as the president of Apsheren District Waterworks Co., Ltd.In 2000, he was elected to the National Assembly.In 2004, he served as President of Afghanistan Waterworks Co., Ltd.On December 2, 2005, he was elected President of the Third National Assembly.Married with two children.
prime ministerAli Asadov。He was once the economic affairs assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, and was appointed as the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan on October 8, 2019.[10]
parliament
The highest legislative organ of the country is called the National Assembly.It is a unicameral system, composed of 125 members, with a five-year term.Its main functions are to formulate, approve and abrogate legal treaties, decide on administrative divisions, approve the state budget and supervise its implementation, recall the President according to the impeachment procedure as requested by the Constitutional Court, and determine a referendum.The current (sixth) National Assembly was elected in February 2020, and Sahiba Gafarova (СахибаГафарова) was elected as the President of the National Assembly.For the first time in history, the opposition was elected as the Vice President of the National Assembly and led the National Assembly Committee, taking an important step to improve the political system, establish healthy political relations, and form a new layout of the political system.[18]
government
Azerbaijani government agencies
The Cabinet of Azerbaijan is the highest executive body of the government.The general reason is the nomination of the President and the approval of the Parliament.The Cabinet of Ministers is appointed and dissolved by the President.The current government was formed in April 2018, and Ali Asadov (АлиАсадов) was the prime minister (from October 2019).The main government officials are: Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov,Джейхун Байрамов）、Vilayat Eyvazov, Minister of Internal Affairs,Вилаят Эйвазов）、Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov,Закир Гасанов）、Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy, etc.[18]
On February 16, 2024 local time, Azerbaijani President Aliyev, who was re elected, signed a resolution approving the list of Azerbaijani governments.Asadov, Baylamov and Kasanov continue to serve as the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Azerbaijan respectively.In addition, most of the heads of the ministries and commissions of the former government also remained in office.[27]
judicial
The judicial power of Azerbaijan is exercised independently by the courts in accordance with the law.The court system includes the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Economic Court and ordinary and special courts at all levels.The Constitutional Court is composed of nine judges, all appointed by Parliament on the nomination of the President.The current President of the Constitutional Court is Farhad Abdulayev, who took office in June 2003 and was re elected in June 2013.The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ of Azerbaijan, consisting of 38 judges, who are appointed by the Parliament on the nomination of the President.The current President of the Supreme Court is Ramiz Lzayev, who took office in April 2005.The Procuratorate independently exercises procuratorial power according to law. The highest procuratorial organ is the Procuratorate General of the Republic. The Procurator General is appointed or removed by the President with the consent of the Parliament.The current Attorney General Kamlan Aliyev was appointed by the President on May 1, 2020.[18]
Economics
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Oil and gas industry is Afghanistan's pillar industry.In 2020, the overall economic situation of Afghanistan will decline due to the double impact of epidemic situation and oil price fluctuation.Since 2021, with the gradual recovery of Afghanistan's foreign exchanges and cooperation and the steady recovery of energy prices, the Afghan economy has stopped falling and recovered.In 2023, Afghanistan's GDP will be about 72.3 billion US dollars, up 1.1% year on year;The total volume of foreign trade was about 51 billion US dollars, down 3.8% year on year.[28]
Industry
mainindustrial sector There are petroleum processing, petrochemical industry, machinery manufacturing, non-ferrous metallurgy, light industry, food, etc.From January to September 2012, the total industrial output value was 25.802 billion manats (about 32.87 billion US dollars), a year-on-year decrease of 3.5%.
particular year
Oil (10000 tons)
Natural gas (100 million cubic meters)
Power (100 million kW/h)
two thousand
one thousand four hundred and eight point six two
fifty-six point four two seven
one hundred and eighty-six point six three
two thousand and one
one thousand four hundred and ninety point five five
fifty-five point three three seven
one hundred and eighty-nine point nine one
two thousand and two
one thousand five hundred and thirty-three
fifty-one point five zero five
one hundred and eighty-five point three three
two thousand and seven
four thousand one hundred and sixty-five point eight three
one hundred and fourteen point one one
two hundred and fourteen
two thousand and eight
four thousand four hundred and fifty
one hundred and sixty-three
two hundred and two
two thousand and nine
five thousand
two hundred and sixty-three
two hundred and twenty-two
Agriculture
From January to September 2012, the total agricultural output value was 4088 million manats (about 5.21 billion US dollars), up 6.3% year on year.
the service sector; the tertiary industry
In 2012, Afghanistan's service industry completed an added value of 15878.9 million manat (about 20.2 billion US dollars), accounting for 29.4% of the total GDP, up 7.6% year on year.Among them, the output value of transportation industry is 29.415 million manat (+5%), that of communication industry is 927.2 million manat (+15.9%), that of tourism and catering industry is 910.3 million manat (+18.8%), that of commerce and maintenance is 3631.3 million manat (+9.6%), and that of social and other service industries is 7468.6 million manat (+5.4%).[11]
Finance
As of September 30, 2012, Afghanistan's strategic foreign exchange reserve was 45 billion US dollars (Afghanistan's foreign exchange reserve consists of the central bank's foreign exchange reserve, the State Petroleum Fund's foreign exchange reserve and the Ministry of Finance's foreign exchange reserve).
There are 47 banks in Afghanistan, including 2 state-owned banks and 45 private banks. 24 banks have foreign capital participation, of which 6 banks have more than 50% foreign capital.Main bank: Azerbaijan National Bank, established in 1992, is responsible for currency issuance, gold foreign exchange reserve control and supervision of all other banks.Azerbaijan International Bank is a state-owned commercial bank, which was established in 1990. Its assets account for 40% of the banking system of Azerbaijan. It has dozens of branches at home and abroad, and the Ministry of Finance is its main shareholder.
foreign trade
From January to September 2012, the total foreign trade volume of Afghanistan was US $29.118 billion, down 6.1% year on year, of which the import volume was US $6.016 billion, up 0.6% year on year, and the export volume was US $23.102 billion, down 7.9% year on year.In 2011, the total foreign trade volume of Afghanistan was 36.3 billion US dollars, including 9.7 billion US dollars in imports and 26.6 billion US dollars in exports.Historical import and export (unit: USD 100 million):
particular year
total
Import volume
Exports
difference
two thousand
twenty-nine point one six nine
eleven point seven two zero
seventeen point four four nine
five point seven two nine
two thousand and one
thirty-seven point four five
fourteen point three one
twenty-three point one four
eight point eight three
two thousand and two
thirty-eight point three three
sixteen point six five
twenty-one point six eight
five point zero three
two thousand and seven
one hundred and seventeen point six seven
fifty-seven point zero nine
sixty point five eight
three point four nine
two thousand and eight
five hundred and forty-nine point two zero
seventy-one point six four
four hundred and seventy-seven point five six
four hundred and five point nine two
two thousand and nine
one hundred and eighty-five
fifty-five
one hundred and twenty-five
seventy
The main export products include oil and petroleum products, natural gas, fruits and vegetables, ferrous metals and products, chemical products, tobacco and alcohol, etc.The main imported products include machinery and equipment, food, transportation tools and accessories, ferrous metals and products, wood, medicine, furniture and daily necessities.The main import and export trade partners are Italy, France, the United States, Russia and Ukraine.[12]
foreign capital
In 2011, foreign investment in Afghanistan was 2.516 billion dollars, mainly including: Britain (992 million dollars, accounting for 45.2% of the total foreign investment), the United States (318 million dollars, 14.4%), Japan (228 million dollars, 9.1%), Norway (128 million dollars, 5.1%), Turkey (103 million dollars, 4.1%), the Czech Republic (93 million dollars, 3.7%), France (37 million dollars, 1.5%),South Korea (US $32 million, 1.3%), Saudi Arabia (US $25 million, 0.1%).
Culture
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language
The official language is Azerbaijani.Russian and English are widely used by government departments, and Azerbaijani is widely used by ordinary people, so it is difficult to communicate in Russian and English.[18]
Religion
Azerbaijani residents mainly believe in Islam (Shiite), but do not emphasize the differences between religious sects.Russia, Armenia, Georgia and other ethnic minorities believe in Christianity.[18]
custom
Modern wedding in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani people attach great importance to family, have strong family values, respect the elders, love their children, and women undertake all housework.People pay attention to clothes on formal occasions and festival occasions (adult men do not wear shorts in public), and the home environment is clean;Men shake hands when they meet, while women are used to kissing each other on the cheek;When more familiar colleagues or friends meet and leave, regardless of gender and age, they will show respect and friendship by touching each other's faces or kissing their cheeks.Flowers are a common gift for hostesses when they are invited to be formal guests or participate in celebrations.
Azerbaijanis mainly eat beef, mutton, poultry and fish, and like barbecue food, dairy products, sweets and fruits.The daily diet of local people is simple, but they like to hold parties and banquets on festivals and private memorial days;When entertaining guests, do not encourage them to drink, and pay attention to the occasion when smoking.
Local weddings are mostly secular weddings, held in hotels or at home. There is no strict religious ceremony. Guests sing and dance in a very lively way. Most guests will send gifts to the newlyweds to congratulate them.The burial is carried out according to Muslim customs. The bereaved families in the city usually set up tents beside the streets to entertain relatives and friends who come to mourn.
Before visiting the local official organization, it is generally necessary to make an appointment in writing in advance and go there after receiving a reply.Before meeting with local enterprises, groups or individuals, it is also necessary to make an appointment by phone in advance.[4]
festival
Azerbaijan implements a five-day working system, but some government offices also open on Saturdays.The Ministry of Social Security and Labor of Azerbaijan will publish the holiday and non working day arrangements of the year every year.Legal public holidays include: New Year's Day (January 1), International Women's Day (March 8), Nauruz Day (March 21), Anti Fascist Victory Day (May 9), Republic Day (May 28), National Salvation Day (June 15), Armed Forces Day (June 26), Independence Day (October 18), Constitution Day (November 12), National Revival Day (November 17)And Global Azerbaijani Solidarity Day (December 31).In addition, Muslim festivals such as "Eid al Adha" and "Eid al Fitr" (Ramazan) are also legal holidays, because the dates of festivals in the Gregorian calendar are not fixed according to the Hijri calendar.The legal holidays of the New Year and the "Nauruz" Festival are 3 days, plus the weekend holidays before and after the festival, the actual duration of the holiday is at least 7 days.[18]
military
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Azerbaijan announced the establishment of the armed forces on October 9, 1991, which are divided into the army, navy and air force.On November 25 of the same year, the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan passed the Law on the Armed Forces of the Republic and established the Ministry of National Defense.The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic.The current defense minister is General Zakir Hasanov.Azerbaijan implements the compulsory military service system, mainly recruiting 18-35 year old citizens, and the service period is 18 months.The current strength of the Arab army is more than 60000 people (58000 people in the army, 2200 people in the navy, 8660 people in the air force).In 2022, Afghanistan's defense budget will be 4.49 billion manats (about 2.6 billion US dollars).[18]
traffic
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overview
Azerbaijan has the largest port in the Caspian Sea and the largest airport in Transcaucasia, and the infrastructure of highway, railway, water transportation and pipeline transportation is relatively convenient.[4]
Railway
In 2019, the total length of domestic railways in Azerbaijan is 2929.4 km.Among them, 2099.7 km is the railway in use, 815 km is the double track railway, 1650 km is equipped with automatic signal system, and the electrified railway is about 1300 km long.Nearly 900km of railways are out of service, accounting for about 1/3 of the total length of railways in China.Azerbaijani railway transportation is mainly to Georgia, and the freight volume from Baku to Georgia accounts for about 70% of the total railway freight transportation in the country.Azerbaijan railway passenger transport has regular flights to major cities in the country, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and other countries.
On October 30, 2017, the Baku Tbilisi Kars railway was officially opened to traffic. The main purpose of this line is to increase the freight volume from 6.5 million tons to 17 million tons per year, and continue to increase.
In February 2020, Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of the Kars Naxichevan railway, and the preliminary feasibility study is currently under way.
In March 2018, the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Shasin Mustafayev, led a delegation to China to participate in the promotion meeting of trans Caspian transportation corridor jointly organized by the diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey in China.The total length of the transportation corridor across the Caspian Sea is about 6500km, and the whole railway transportation takes 12-14 days.In order to tap the transport potential of the corridor, the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor Development Coordination Committee was established on February 20, 2014.Railways, port management agencies and maritime freight companies in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkey and China have all actively participated in the construction of the Coordination Committee.On January 11, 2017, the International Federation of Legal Persons of the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor was officially registered in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.The main responsibilities of the Alliance are to attract cross-border transport and foreign trade cargo transport flows for the trans Caspian transportation corridor, remove relevant barriers, establish a unified and competitive tax rate policy along the whole line, organize container railway transport and logistics services, research and develop unified train transport technology along the whole line, improve the competitiveness of the whole line, and create an integrated information service system.The initiators of the alliance include Azerbaijan Railway Corporation, Kazakhstan Railway Corporation, Georgia Railway Corporation, Kazakhstan Aktau Port Management Center, Georgia Batumi Port Management Center, etc.[18]
highway
In 2019, the total length of roads in Azerbaijan will be 60000 kilometers.Among them, 29000 kilometers are hardened roads.The total length of Acheng suburban highway is 19000 kilometers, including 4645 kilometers of national trunk line (M) and regional trunk line (R), and 14357 kilometers of local highway (Y).The total length of roads in the capital Baku is 1525 kilometers.In recent years, Azerbaijan has focused on accelerating highway construction. In 2019, the mileage of paved roads in Azerbaijan reached a new high of 1300 kilometers.There are two main transportation lines in Azerbaijan: (1) The main highway running through the north and south of Azerbaijan, with a total length of about 521 kilometers, is an important transit transportation channel connecting Russia and Iran.(2) The trunk highway running through the east and west of Azerbaijan is connected with the border of Georgia, with a total length of about 503 kilometers.This trunk line is an important part of TRACECA international transport corridor.
In May 2020, the first toll road in Azerbaijan will be put into use.The road is 157 kilometers long from Azerbaijan to the Russian border.By the end of 2020, trial charging will be carried out on 100 km road sections. In 2021, the charging work will gradually expand to the remaining 57 km, realizing the charging of the whole road section.The toll is initially set at 2-4 cents/km, depending on the size of the vehicle.There is a free road in parallel with the road, but the width and speed limit are not as good as the toll road.
On March 16, 2021, President Aliyev and his wife, First Vice President Mekhliban Aliyeva, and eldest daughter Leila Aliyeva visited the reconstruction areas after the Second Naka War in Afghanistan - Fizuli District, Hojawende District, and Shusha City, and attended the Fizuli Gardrut Highway, Gardrut Jeblair Shukubaili (Jeblair District, left bank of the Alaska River)The road foundation laying ceremony.With a total length of 13 kilometers, the Fijiada Highway starts from the Fizuli Shusha Highway, the "Success Avenue", and is connected to the Jiajieshu Highway, with two-way four lane roads.Jiajieshu Highway has a total length of 43 kilometers, two-way four lane.[18]
water transport
Water transport in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani water transportation is dominated by Caspian cargo transportation, and more than 60% of cargo transportation is crude oil and refined oil.Water transportation is monopolized by the Caspian Sea Shipping Company of Azerbaijan.The company owns 284 oil tankers, ferries, freighters and other self owned vessels.
Baku Port is the largest port along the Caspian Sea, which can not only connect Caspian Sea transportation with domestic railway transportation, but also connect Caspian Sea transportation with Russian inland river transportation.There is Caspian Sea ferry traffic between Baku Port and Turkmenbashi Port in Turkmenistan and Aktau Port in Kazakhstan.In March 2016, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a presidential decree to establish a free economic zone near Baku New Port, Aliyat Village, Baku City.Phase I work was completed in 2018, with a cargo handling capacity of 1280 tons per day and night, an annual throughput of 10-11 million tons, and 50000 TEUs.[18]
air transport
There are 6 airports in Azerbaijan.Among them, Gaidar Aliyev International Airport is the largest airport in China and was rated as a five-star airport by the international air transport rating organization Skytrax in May 2017.
In 2019, a total of 5.56 million passenger trips were completed at airports in Azerbaijan.In July 2016, China Southern Airlines opened the route of Baku Urumqi Guangzhou, two flights a week.In addition, Azerbaijani Airlines opened direct flights from Baku to Beijing in August 2013, two flights a week.Azerbaijani Airlines, headquartered in Baku, mainly operates scheduled passenger and cargo flights from Baku to CIS countries, Europe, China and the Middle East, as well as domestic services.At present, the company has 51 cities open to navigation.
After the end of the second Nagorno Karabakh war in 2020, the Azerbaijani government plans to build two new international airports in the post-war reconstruction area, of which the construction of the international airport in Fizuli has started and is planned to be completed and put into operation in the autumn of 2021.[18]
The Conduit
Azerbaijan is a landlocked country without an outlet to the sea (the Caspian Sea is a sea track lake surrounded by land), so Azerbaijan's oil and natural gas are through pipelines.In 2013, the transportation volume of Azerbaijani oil pipeline was 43.5 million tons.[4]
Sociology
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education
Azerbaijan implements 11 year compulsory education, and the education system is divided into preschool education, general primary and secondary education, vocational and technical education, secondary professional education and higher education.There are 4433 full-time general schools with about 1.61 million students;110 vocational and technical schools with 23000 students;59 junior secondary schools with 56000 students;There are 40 national institutions of higher learning and 12 private institutions of higher learning, with a total of 187700 students.Famous universities include the State Bakulasulzad University and Azerbaijan National Petroleum Institute;The main universities are Slavic Language University and National University of Economics.[18]
scientific research
The main scientific research institution in Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences, which is subordinate to more than 30 natural science and humanities research institutes and other scientific research auxiliary institutions and is a national public institution.[18]
medical care
Most of the original public hospitals in Azerbaijan have been privatized and become commercial toll hospitals.Income from public outpatient clinics in residential areas shall be retained.Azerbaijan does not implement a compulsory medical insurance system.Local residents can enjoy free treatment in public clinics, but they must purchase drugs at their own expense (more than 1300 pharmacies nationwide are private). More than two-thirds of drugs are imported, and the price is high.The medical expenses of foreign citizens in Afghanistan are all at their own expense.Azerbaijan does not implement compulsory medical insurance for foreigners, and foreigners decide whether to buy medical insurance.If you plan to purchase medical insurance for a long stay in Azerbaijan, you must choose an insurance company recognized by the state and with good reputation.What medical expenses the insurance company bears depends on the type of insurance it participates in. The specific conditions need to be negotiated with the insurance company.
The main infectious diseases in Azerbaijan include dysentery, lice, herpes, viral hepatitis, mumps, etc.[18]
publish
There are more than 40 newspapers and periodicals in Azerbaijan.The main newspapers and periodicals are: Baku Workers' Daily, an organ of the General Office of the President, was founded in 1906 and published in Russian, with a circulation of about 3000;The People's Daily, an organ of the General Office of the President, was founded in 1919 and published in Arabic, with a circulation of about 5000 copies;Azerbaijan Daily, the organ newspaper of the National Assembly, was founded in 1918 and published in Arabic, with a circulation of about 7500 copies;The Musavat Party newspaper Musavat Newspaper has a circulation of about 7500.Except that Baku Worker is the organ newspaper of the President's Office, the rest are independent media.At present, Azerbaijan's online media is relatively developed.
Azerbaijani State News Agency (hereinafter referred to as "Azerbaijani News Agency"), the official news agency of Azerbaijan, was established in March 1920.The news is broadcast in Azerbaijani, English, Russian, French, German, Arabic and Chinese, covering politics, economy, science, education, culture, health, environment and other fields.A news agency has signed a cooperation agreement with China's Xinhua News Agency, and has set up a reporter station in China.
Azerbaijani State Television (established in 1956), Azerbaijani Public Television (established in 2005), ANS (established in 1992), SPACE (established in 1997), ATV (established in 1999), LIDER (established in 2000) and other private television stations, most of their programs are broadcast in Azerbaijani.
Azerbaijan Central Radio (established in 1926) broadcasts in 13 languages, including Arabic, Russian, English, French, German, Arabic and Persian.
Azerbaijani online media mainly include APA, Day, Trend, Turan, Azeri Press, NewsAzerbaijan and Interfax, all of which are independent media.The Azerbaijan Journalists Association is the main media association in Azerbaijan.[18]
signal communication
One of the fastest growing industrial sectors in Azerbaijan.In 2013, the added value of the whole industry was 1.009 billion manats (about 1.286 billion US dollars), up 10.7% year on year, accounting for 1.7% of the total GDP.
Due to the aging of fixed telephone communication network facilities in Azerbaijan, fixed telephone has been listed as a key development field supported by the state. Through technological transformation, by 2014, the national digital rate had reached 95%, while that of Baku was 97%. The digital rate outside Baku has increased to 93%, and the call fee has also been reduced.
By the end of 2013, the network penetration rate in Azerbaijan was 70%, of which there were 50 broadband network users per 100 people, and the speed of connection to the global Internet was 10GB/s;40 service operators.There are also many technologies and equipment provided by China.[4]
People's livelihood
In 2002, the per capita GDP of Afghanistan was US $756.3, and the average monthly wage of employees was about US $64.The urban per capita living area is 12 square meters, and the rural area is 13.3 square meters.Source of the above economic data: "Macroeconomic statistical indicators of Azerbaijan in 2002" published by Azerbaijan Tulan News Agency.
In 2009, the per capita GDP of Afghanistan was US $3845, down 29% year on year. However, the country increased domestic investment and expanded domestic demand by relying on foreign exchange accumulated from export oil, which ensured that the monthly wages of employees increased by 8.6% year on year to 298 manat, up 8.6% year on year.Each thousand people have 8.28 beds, 3.9 doctors and 7.6 medical staff.Every thousand people have 65 cars, 139 telephones and 391 mobile phones.
From January to September 2012, the average salary of Alabama was 500 dollars.Residents' monetary income increased by 12%.The inflation rate is 1.5%.From January to October 2012, 94000 new jobs were created.The average monthly pension is 190 dollars.
Sports
The European Olympic Committee voted to establish the European Games at the General Assembly held in Rome on December 8, 2012. The first competition was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in 2015.[21]
International Relations
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foreign policy
Azerbaijan pursues an independent, pluralistic and balanced policy and emphasizes the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and mutual benefit, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs in international affairs.We will actively use international and regional organizations such as the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non Aligned Movement to expand diplomatic space.The two sides have long been hostile to Armenia and have not yet established diplomatic relations. The crux of their relations is the "Naka" issue.From September to November 2020, armed conflict broke out in "Naka" region, causing a large number of casualties.On November 9 of the same year, under the coordination of Russia, the two countries issued a joint statement of the three heads of state, deciding to immediately achieve a ceasefire, Russia sent peacekeeping troops to the conflict areas, Armenia returned the surrounding areas of "Naka" to Azerbaijan, etc.From September 19 to 20, 2023, the Ministry of National Defense of Afghanistan will implement "regional anti-terrorism action" in the "Naka" area.On January 1, 2024, according to the statement issued by the "Naka" authorities, the "Naka Republic" officially ceased to exist.[28]
external relations
Relations with China
On December 27, 1991, State Councilor and Foreign MinisterQian QichenCall the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan to inform the Chinese government of the formal recognition of the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.On April 2, 1992, Wang Jinqing, the representative of the Chinese government (the Chinese ambassador to Russia), and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Sadkhov signed the communiqu é on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan in Baku, which means that the two countries will establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.In August of the same year, China set up an embassy in Azerbaijan.
In 2012, China Arab friendly cooperative relations developed steadily and healthily, and cooperation in various fields continued to expand.Major bilateral exchanges include: Li Zhaoxing, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (September), Du Qinglin, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (November), and Bai Lichen, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (December);Mustafayev, Minister of Economic Development of Afghanistan (May), and Alisov, Minister of Communications and Information of Afghanistan (came to China in September to attend the Tianjin Summer Davos Forum).In February 2013, Ascrov, the first deputy speaker of the Afghan National Assembly, visited China.[8]
China Arab economic and trade cooperation has developed smoothly.In 2023, China Arab trade volume will reach 1.72 billion US dollars, up 25% year on year.Among them, China's exports were 1.55 billion US dollars, up 47% year on year, and China's imports were 170 million US dollars, down 30% year on year.
In 1999, the two sides held the first meeting of the China Arab Intergovernmental Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee.So far, nine meetings have been held.[29]
The two sides have successfully cooperated in education, culture, science and technology, sports, tourism, media and other fields.The two sides have jointly opened two Confucius Institutes in Afghanistan.
Relations with Russia
The diplomatic relationship was established on April 4, 1992.In 2013, the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries developed steadily, and the two sides maintained good relations in energy, military technology, economy and trade, people to people and cultural exchanges and other fields.[8]
Relations with the United States
The diplomatic relationship was established on February 28, 1992.The strategic partnership between the two countries continued to develop in 2013.[8]
Relations with Turkey
The diplomatic relationship was established on January 14, 1992.Azerbaijan regards Turkey as an important strategic partner, and both sides are allies, actively promoting the "Trans Anatolian" natural gas pipeline project.[8]
Relations with Iran
The diplomatic relationship was established on March 12, 1992.In 2013, Arab Iranian relations developed smoothly.[8]
Relations with Armenia
Naka region
Hostile due to the conflict of "Naka".In 2013, both sides successfully held presidential elections, and both presidents of Aya and Aya were successfully elected for re-election. The relationship between the two countries has slowed down, and both countries intend to peacefully resolve the "Naqqa" issue.[4]
On November 16, 2021, armed conflict broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the border area, and both sides accused the other party of taking the lead in launching military attacks.
In March 2022, Azerbaijan and Armenia had an armed conflict in Nagorno Karabakh (Naka).[16]On October 6, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan said that the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia could be signed before the end of 2022.[19]
On December 7, 2023, the President's Office of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister's Office of Armenia issued a joint statement stating that the two countries reaffirmed their intention to normalize relations and reach a peace treaty on the basis of respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.[22]
Relations with Afghanistan
On February 15, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Afghan Interim Government announced that Azerbaijan would open an embassy in Afghanistan.[26]
International Relations
Adhere to the basic diplomatic principles of independence, pluralism and balance.Focus on developing strategic partnership with Russia, actively develop cooperation with the United States and the European Union, and regard integration into Europe as the foreign strategic goal.Efforts should be made to develop bilateral relations with Turkey, Iran, Georgia and other neighboring countries.Actively participate in CIS affairs.Because of the Nagorno Karabakh territorial dispute, it has long been hostile to neighboring Armenia.[2]
specialty
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Caviar is a precious food made from sturgeon eggs unique to the Caspian Sea. Nearly 90% of the world's caviar comes from the Caspian Sea. Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran all border the Caspian Sea. Among them, Iran is the most famous for producing wild caviar. Iran produces more than 50% of the Caspian caviar. Iran's caviar industry has government supervision,The production technology is good and the quality is stable, so the public believes that the caviar with the best quality in the world will be directly sent to the state managed storage after being packaged and sealed according to the grade.[13]
Travel?
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Baku Maiden Tower
Baku Maiden Tower
Baku Maiden TowerLocated in the center of Baku's old city, adjacent to the Caspian Sea coast, it is part of the palace complex of Khan built in the 12th century.The whole tower is 27 meters high and has 8 layers of cylindrical shape. Each layer can accommodate more than 50 people. There is a well in the tower. The water in the well is cool and sweet all the year round.Features: Each window of Tatu has defense facilities, which can pour hot molten lead or throw burning oil torches.
Lagodehi Nature Reserve
Lagodehi Nature ReserveIt is located in the northwest of Azerbaijan, bordering Russia, and Zakatar in the south.Features: The nature reserve covers a large area. The forests and plains in the reserve are intertwined to form beautiful landscape paintings. There are various rare animals and plants in the reserve, which is a tourist resort.
Gulianqia Nature Reserve
Located in the directly administered region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its south is Agdashi, and its west is Minggaiqiaur Reservoir.Features: The reserve covers a large area with dense forests and rich wildlife.
Baku Islands
Located in the Caspian Sea in the east of Azerbaijan, it is composed of several small islands, starting from the Aliat Sea in the north and ending at Kurkosa in the south.Features: The islands are distributed in groups, and the scenery is beautiful and charming. There are all kinds of coral reefs, and all kinds of birds gather on the islands.
Xilvan Nature Reserve
Xilvan Nature ReserveIt is located in the east of Azerbaijan, connected with the Caspian Sea, and in the east is the Baku Islands, belonging to the Salyan region.Features: The natural reserve is low in potential, rich in mineral resources, rich in wild animals, and beautiful in scenery.
Mugan Plain
Mugan PlainLocated in the south of Azerbaijan, the whole area is a river system irrigation area with fertile soil, rich agricultural products, developed animal husbandry, and few hills on the plain.Features: The scenery here is beautiful and charming, and the river Rlud-K ü r presents a huge "few" words, shining with dazzling light under the sunshine in spring.[13]
