Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcoming ceremony for Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 10, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BAKU, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China attaches great importance to deepening bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, which is an important partner of China, Li Jun, senior official of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said here on Tuesday.

While meeting with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Li said the visit by the CPC working group to Azerbaijan will help pushing forward Azerbaijan-China relations.

During the meeting, Li voiced China's intention to promote bilateral ties in the political area, and highlighted the Belt and Road Initiative as opening a range of opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 aims to create greater trade, infrastructure and people-to-people links between Asia, Europe and Africa by reviving and expanding the ancient Silk Trade routes. The modern version comprises the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Mammadyarov expressed the belief that further political dialogue between Azerbaijan and China will give impetus to bilateral cooperation in especially the area of economic and trade.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister also noted that bilateral cooperation has been successful in many areas, in particular those within the framework of the United Nations.

On economic and trade cooperation, Mammadyarov said there is yet great potential to tap, while expressing the hope for Chinese enterprises to be more actively involved in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, contributing to the diversification of the Azerbaijani economy.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on prospects for bilateral cooperation in tourism and the humanitarian area.