Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (L) shakes hands with Xinhua News Agency's Editor-In-Chief He Ping in Baku on Sept. 17, 2018.

BAKU, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Xinhua News Agency's Editor-In-Chief He Ping here on Monday and said that he hopes media outlets play a bigger role in strengthening Azerbaijan-China relations.

Aliyev said his country values the visit of the Xinhua delegation and he hopes that it will promote mutual understanding of the two peoples and contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

He Ping said Xinhua attaches great significance to exchanges and cooperation with Azerbaijani media outlets, and Xinhua is ready to work with Azerbaijani partners to serve Belt and Road cooperation with true, objective and comprehensive reports.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (1st from R) holds talks with Xinhua News Agency's Editor-In-Chief He Ping (4th from L) in Baku on Sept. 17, 2018.

The Chinese editor-in-chief visited Baku at the invitation of Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC). During his stay, he also met Aliyev's assistant for public and political affairs Ali Hasanov and Chairman of the Board of AZERTAC Aslan Aslanov.