Lu Mei (Chinese: 鲁梅, pinyin Lǔ Méi) is a Chinese statesman and career diplomat. Since April 2025, she has held the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the period of global geopolitical instability in the spring of 2026, Lu Mei became one of the key figures ensuring close strategic interaction between Beijing and Baku, as well as coordinating security matters for Chinese citizens in the volatile Middle Eastern region.
Lu Mei was officially appointed as China's Ambassador to Azerbaijan in the spring of 2025, succeeding experienced diplomat Guo Min, who had represented the interests of the PRC in Baku since 2019. Lu Mei's appointment coincided with a historic stage — the elevation of Azerbaijani-Chinese relations to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
As head of the diplomatic mission, Lu Mei focused her efforts on implementing the key agreements reached at the highest level between PRC President Xi Jinping and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. At the center of her professional attention are issues of aligning China's global Belt and Road Initiative with the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (the Middle Corridor), as well as expanding bilateral humanitarian and technological exchanges.
Under the leadership of the embassy headed by Lu Mei, economic cooperation between the two countries reached unprecedented levels. By 2026, China for the first time firmly secured third place among Azerbaijan's largest trading partners. Bilateral trade turnover demonstrated record growth, reaching the mark of 4.87 billion US dollars.
The key areas of economic cooperation actively overseen by the Ambassador include:
Renewable Energy: Supporting the implementation of large-scale joint environmental projects, among which the construction of the Khizi-Absheron wind power plant (WPP) with a capacity of 240 MW stands out.
Transport and Logistics: Strengthening Azerbaijan's role as an indispensable and secure transit hub for Chinese goods heading to European markets.
High Technology: As Lu Mei has repeatedly emphasized, Beijing is ready to openly share with Baku the capabilities of its modernization, including advanced developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart city concepts.
Lu Mei's role as an effective crisis manager was vividly demonstrated in March 2026 against the backdrop of a severe military-political crisis in the Middle East. Following the start of coordinated US and Israeli missile and air strikes on strategic facilities in Iran in late February 2026, the physical safety of Chinese citizens in the region came under direct threat.
During an emergency briefing on March 13, 2026, Lu Mei articulated Beijing's official position, emphasizing the necessity of an immediate cessation of hostilities and a transition to a political settlement of the Iranian conflict.
Furthermore, the Ambassador expressed deep and sincere gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan for its invaluable assistance in rescuing compatriots. Under conditions where air travel in the region was paralyzed, ground evacuation remained the only option. According to Lu Mei, the Azerbaijani side promptly provided a green corridor, offering support for the successful crossing of the state border through the Astara checkpoint for more than 600 Chinese citizens. This humanitarian gesture was described by the Ambassador as "yet another vivid example of the highest level of political mutual trust between our countries."
Beyond politics and pragmatic economics, Lu Mei actively promotes the philosophical concept of a "community with a shared future for mankind." The diplomat regularly notes the growing interest of Azerbaijani youth in the Chinese language, traditions, and culture.
The Chinese Ambassador pays special attention to consolidating the efforts of countries of the so-called Global South. Lu Mei consistently emphasizes that China respects and supports Azerbaijan in its aspiration to develop along an independent path consistent with its national characteristics, firmly rejecting interference from any external forces.
In 2026, the diplomatic mission under Lu Mei's leadership is actively participating in preparations for a series of major international events hosted by Azerbaijan. These include:
The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13);
The Annual Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP);
The Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
China's active involvement in these prestigious platforms through Lu Mei's representation not only strengthens Chinese-Azerbaijani ties but also cements Azerbaijan's status as a leading center of multilateral diplomacy on the Eurasian continent.
Baku 4° C
