Visa-Free Regime, Tourism and Economic Cooperation Between Azerbaijan and China

Azerbaijan, as a key part of the Middle Corridor—the shortest transport and logistics route connecting China and Europe—is a strategic partner of the PRC. As part of developing this strategic partnership, Azerbaijan is currently paying great attention to increasing both business contacts and tourist travel between China and Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan initially unilaterally moved toward visa liberalization. On January 20, 2025, in Davos, Switzerland, in an interview with CGTN (China Global Television Network), President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan had removed visa requirements for Chinese citizens, and "Chinese citizens don't even need to apply for an electronic visa." At the same time, the President of Azerbaijan expressed hope that entry for the country's citizens to China would soon become visa-free.
"I hope that citizens of Azerbaijan will soon have the same opportunity. This will increase the number of tourists. It will definitely increase contacts between people, and public diplomacy will play its role. Now we are working through official diplomatic channels—political, economic, trade, investment channels related to transport communications, but public diplomacy will add a lot," Ilham Aliyev said then.
The wait for establishing a full visa-free regime between Azerbaijan and China was not long. As part of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's upcoming visit to China in the coming days, the signing of an Agreement on mutual visa-free regime is expected. The visa-free regime between Azerbaijan and China will bring a number of strategic and economic benefits for both sides, especially for Azerbaijan.
The introduction of a visa-free regime between China and the South Caucasus countries.Azerbaijan and Georgia (and possibly Armenia in the future)—opens a new page in regional politics and economics. This decision goes far beyond simplified tourism. It creates conditions for long-term strategic rapprochement with China and the transformation of the Caucasus into a key link in the global transport and economic space. The South Caucasus acquires new strategic value against the backdrop of the development of the Middle Corridor—the Trans-Caspian route connecting China with Europe through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.
The visa-free regime simplifies the movement of logistics specialists, professionals, drivers, and business delegations, increasing the efficiency of the entire chain. Strengthening the strategic partnership with China will increase Azerbaijan's rating as a reliable partner in Eurasia. There is also the possibility of acting as a regional mediator or bridge between China and other countries of the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.
The visa-free regime will make travel by Azerbaijani citizens for business and tourism purposes to China more common and at the same time will contribute to a sharp increase in the flow of Chinese tourists to Azerbaijan, which fully aligns with the growing interest of PRC citizens in the Silk Road countries. The visa-free regime opens the way for accelerated growth of Chinese tourism in the entire South Caucasus region, especially if countries coordinate the promotion of the region as a single tourist destination. Azerbaijan, as a kind of "eastern gateway to Europe," can not only attract a significant number of tourists from China but also contribute to an even faster growth of Chinese tourist flow to Georgia and Turkey located to the west.
An example of the rapid growth in the number of Chinese tourists following visa policy liberalization is shown by Georgia, which introduced a visa-free regime with the PRC back in September 2023. Largely due to the visa-free regime, the number of tourists from China to Georgia increased by 83.4% in 2024. According to Georgian experts from the tourism sector, Chinese tourists are distinguished by their exceptional purchasing power. They travel for extended periods of time. Their average number of overnight stays is higher than visitors from other countries, and therefore they make a greater contribution to strengthening the country's economy.
Chinese businesses are also actively entering Georgia. In 2024 alone, the state registry of Georgia registered 291 new Chinese companies. This is the highest figure in the last three decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. In total, since the establishment of the strategic partnership between Georgia and China in 2023, the registration of Chinese enterprises in the country has increased by 96.6%.
Similarly, there is a sharp growth in business contacts between Azerbaijan and China. The visa-free regime further facilitates business travel, which can accelerate the signing of agreements, the launch of joint ventures, and the implementation of investment projects. Thanks to simplified access for investors, an even greater growth in direct Chinese investments in Azerbaijan's logistics, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy is expected. It is possible to create new regional offices of Chinese companies focused on the Caucasus, the Black Sea, and further into Europe, both in Azerbaijan and in Georgia.
Another example of active development of tourism from China is shown by another country of the Middle Corridor—Kazakhstan. 2024 was declared in China as the year of tourism to Kazakhstan. The main goal of the Year of Tourism to Kazakhstan in the PRC was to popularize Kazakhstan among Chinese citizens as a tourist destination. The goals also included cultural exchange and exchange of business experience, strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between peoples. The Year of Tourism was aimed at attracting half a million tourists from China and exporting tourism services worth 300 million US dollars.
During the year, 47 different cultural and business events were held, aimed at increasing the popularity of Kazakhstan in the Chinese market. All events were aimed at strengthening business ties with leading Chinese tourism companies. As a result of the work done, Kazakhstan rose from 40th to 29th place in the list of popular countries among Chinese tourists in terms of the number of booked trips.
As a result, 655 thousand citizens of the PRC visited Kazakhstan in 2024, which is 78% more than in 2023, and this exceeded the boldest initial expectations. Tourism from China to Kazakhstan is facilitated both by the fact that the countries directly border each other and by the sharp increase in the number of flights from the PRC to cities in Kazakhstan. Georgia and Azerbaijan can also increase tourist flow from China through the growth of flights, despite the absence of a common border with the PRC.
In principle, Chinese tourists are very profitable for tour operators worldwide. Experts from Spain and Italy note that the advantage of Chinese tourism is that it does not prefer the typical tourist product for these countries such as beach holidays by the sea, but is more interested in cultural and gastronomic events, trade fairs, congresses, and conventions. This helps even many popular European tourist countries to de-seasonalize their tourism activities. Moreover, the South Caucasus countries have much to show Chinese tourists with their unique history, cultural heritage, cuisine, and nature.
It is also important that the ease of visa-free movement stimulates the arrival of Chinese investors in the Caucasus region. Already today, China is showing interest in projects in the fields of energy, agriculture, and logistics. In particular, it is important to note the interest in the ports of Baku (Azerbaijan) and Poti (Georgia), as well as the fact that a new deep-water port of Anaklia is also being built in Georgia with the involvement of Chinese investors. The ease of access to the South Caucasus and the presence of large infrastructure hubs here will accelerate the opening of representative offices of Chinese companies and the creation of new jobs.
Geopolitically, China's presence in the South Caucasus region can serve as a counterbalance to Western influence, making the South Caucasus more multi-vector and sustainable. The fact that China prefers not to interfere in internal and political conflicts makes it a convenient partner for all three countries in the region.
Gulnara Safarli

SR-CENTER.INFO