Azerbaijan–China Trade & Logistics: Azerbaijan’s embassy in Beijing marked Independence Day with officials praising Belt and Road ties as bilateral trade turnover jumped over 30% in Q1, with Baku positioned as a logistics hub between East-West and North-South corridors. Tourism Push to China: Azerbaijan Tourism Board events in Xi’an, Shanghai and Beijing, plus ITB China 2026, promoted Azerbaijan as a year-round destination; a MoU was signed with a major Chinese online travel platform and AZAL highlighted direct connectivity. Financial Inclusion for MSMEs: Azerbaijan approved a 2027–2030 state program to build a unified digital financial platform for startups and MSMEs, aiming to streamline access to concessional lending and state-backed support via one digital window (2027–2028 pilot). Agrarian Policy Upgrade: The agrarian sector gets a new push under a 2026–2030 state program, targeting intensive farming, higher quality and productivity, and stronger food security. Oil Market Snapshot: Azeri Light fell $3.57 (3.24%) to $106.48/bbl on global markets. Insurance Sector: Life insurance premiums rose nearly 10% in Q1 2026 to 371.534m manats (Jan–Apr). Regional Diplomacy: Azerbaijan’s FM met China’s Wang Yi in New York, while Bayramov also met Turkmenistan’s Meredov to expand trade, energy and Caspian cooperation. Independence Day Abroad: Azerbaijan held official Independence Day receptions in Seoul, Vienna and Moscow, highlighting COP29 and World Urban Forum hosting and ongoing peace and reconstruction efforts.