In a recent publication, the Chinese Global Times newspaper featured an interview with Hikmat Hajiyev, the foreign policy advisor to the President of Azerbaijan. The interview, while carefully constructed, portrays Hajiyev’s enthusiastic discourse on enhancing relations and cooperation with China. Hajiyev boldly claims China as a friendly nation, suggesting Azerbaijan’s readiness to align closely with China’s development path, even citing the use of Huawei products (a claim that appears dubious).
The agenda of the Global Times is transparent, as it naturally seeks to promote Chinese foreign and economic policies abroad. Hence, the publication of Hajiyev’s seemingly scripted responses as an interview comes as no surprise.
However, while China’s intentions may aim for bilateral relations based on mutual interests with Azerbaijan, the choice of Hikmat Hajiyev as a counterpart may prove misguided. Hajiyev’s track record reveals him as a deeply flawed and unreliable figure, despite his presidential appointment.
His numerous controversial and contradictory statements on Azerbaijani foreign policy have contributed to the country’s precarious situation in this field. Recent reports from Western media confirm his involvement in propagandistic activities against foreign nations, rather than fostering professional diplomacy. While openly accusing major powers like the USA and France, and exacerbating tensions with Iran, Hajiyev consistently prioritizes his personal and familial interests over Azerbaijan’s diplomatic agenda. His history of making diametrically opposing statements, such as his conflicting remarks on foreign investment in Azerbaijani territories, undermines his credibility.
Now, his diatribe about Chinese-Azerbaijani cooperation is also illusory and fake. During his China trip, Hajiyev did not even bother to write correct messages on X (formerly Twitter), misspelling them and never correcting the errors. As reported by Azeri Herald, he even failed to follow protocols, such as sitting next to his country’s flag while meeting the Pakistani envoy in China. His so-called exemplary interest in following China’s development path did not prevent him from misspelling the city name “Shanghai” as “Shagai” in his Twitter messages, along with nine other mistakes.
While the Global Times adheres to China’s defined policy line, it must recognize that Hajiyev prioritizes his personal interests over Azerbaijani policy objectives. His propensity for issuing statements that contradict previous positions raises doubts about his reliability as a diplomatic contact. Unlike China, where officials adhere to a strict hierarchy, Azerbaijani officials like Hajiyev can mislead even the President to serve their own agendas. Allegations of withholding critical information during the COVID-19 pandemic underscore the risks posed by Hajiyev’s unchecked influence.
Despite widespread allegations of corruption and self-serving behavior, Hajiyev retains his position as a presidential advisor, providing a platform for outlets like the Global Times to interview him. However, Chinese media should recognize that genuine diplomacy and cooperation with Azerbaijan require trustworthy and principled counterparts.
Hajiyev usually uses such occasions to promote his own image and personal career interests, as he had done in the past when Western news agencies such as CNN and BBC interviewed him during the latest military conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Then, Hajiyev, who had been charged as one of the spokesmen to convey Azerbaijan’s position during the conflict, used this opportunity for his own propaganda in the domestic media and social networks he controls.
While Hajiyev’s position may grant him access to high-level discussions, serious allegations against him casts doubt on his suitability as a diplomatic partner. China must exercise caution and seek more dependable channels for fostering relations with Azerbaijan, lest it become entangled in the self-serving agendas of individuals like Hikmat Hajiyev.
