Azerbaijan and the Pan-African Parliament have explored avenues for expanding political, parliamentary, and economic cooperation, with Baku highlighting new opportunities for deeper engagement with African countries during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s meeting with a delegation led by Pan-African Parliament President Fateh Boutbig.
Welcoming the delegation, FM Bayramov noted that relations between Azerbaijan and African countries have developed dynamically in recent years. He highlighted the importance of mutual visits, political consultations and interparliamentary ties in expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation, stressing Azerbaijan’s particular interest in strengthening relations with the African continent, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.
Bayramov briefed the delegation on efforts to intensify mutual visits and identify new opportunities for cooperation in various fields. He also highlighted the Azerbaijani parliament’s efforts to advance parliamentary diplomacy, strengthen ties with African parliaments and expand cooperation with the Pan-African Parliament. The memorandum of understanding signed between the two parliamentary bodies was described as an important step in this regard.
The sides exchanged views on Azerbaijan’s activities and chairmanships on international and regional platforms. Bayramov said Azerbaijan had made significant contributions to the institutional development of the Non-Aligned Movement during its chairmanship, highlighting the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network and Youth Organization at Azerbaijan’s initiative, as well as efforts to strengthen solidarity and mutual support within the Movement.
The meeting also addressed Azerbaijan’s initiatives to strengthen international solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was noted that Azerbaijan provided financial and humanitarian assistance to more than 80 countries, most of them members of the Non-Aligned Movement, while also allocating funds to support post-pandemic recovery efforts in Africa and Small Island Developing States. The adoption of a resolution on the equitable distribution of vaccines was also highlighted.
The sides discussed efforts under Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency to expand developing countries’ access to climate finance, including for African states, and emphasized the significance of decisions adopted in Baku.
FM Bayramov also briefed the delegation on Azerbaijan’s role in the region, efforts to promote peace and security in the South Caucasus, and the new realities that have emerged following the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. He spoke about the large-scale reconstruction and renovation projects being carried out in Azerbaijan’s territories liberated from occupation.
The meeting highlighted the broad potential for Azerbaijan-Africa cooperation beyond the political and diplomatic spheres, including in energy, transport, agriculture, mining, education and humanitarian affairs. The importance of Azerbaijan’s support for educational and medical programs in Africa, as well as institutional capacity-building initiatives, was also emphasized.
Boutbig highly appreciated the importance Azerbaijan attaches to developing relations with the African continent and its initiatives aimed at strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
The parties also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
By Vafa Guliyeva
