BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 19. Azerbaijan
discussed expanding economic, trade, and energy cooperation with
Japan during Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov's meeting with
Japan's outgoing ambassadorKatsuya Watanabe on October 19.


This was reported by the Foreign Ministry’s press service in a
statement.


During the meeting, the current state and prospects for the
development of Azerbaijani-Japanese relations were discussed, and
the ambassador’s contribution to the development of bilateral ties
during his tenure was noted with satisfaction.


The meeting also reminisced about Jeyhun Bayramov’s visit to
Japan earlier this year and the discussions held during that visit.
The parties reviewed issues of cooperation within international
organizations, emphasized the importance of mutual support, and the
need to continue dialogue in multilateral forums.


In addition, it was noted that Azerbaijan’s successful hosting
of international events, including COP29, the 13th session of the
World Urban Forum (WUF13), and the World Telecommunication
Development Conference (WTDC-25), demonstrates the country’s
contribution to the development of international cooperation, the
advancement of the sustainable development agenda, and the
resolution of global challenges.


During the conversation, special attention was also paid to
expanding contacts between the parties and developing cooperation
in the fields of education, culture, and sports. In this context,
it was noted that Azerbaijan’s unilateral introduction of a
visa-free regime for Japanese citizens contributes to strengthening
bilateral ties and developing tourism exchanges.


The parties also discussed opportunities to further strengthen
mutual interest and cultural ties between the two nations through
sports such as judo and sumo. The significance of prestigious
competitions held in Azerbaijan in these sports was emphasized.


At the conclusion of the meeting, Jeyhun Bayramov expressed his
gratitude to Ambassador Katsuya Watanabe for his efforts during his
diplomatic tenure in Azerbaijan and wished him success in his
future endeavors. The parties also exchanged views on other issues
of mutual interest.