Round table on the topic "Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan: growing connections

Baku/11.03.23/Turan: In a demonstration of strengthening diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, a roundtable discussion titled "Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan: Regional Cooperation" was jointly organized by the Center for Analysis of International Relations and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan. The event, held in Baku, served as a platform for high-level officials and experts to explore the burgeoning partnership between the two countries and discuss prospects for regional cooperation.

UNDP Chairman Farid Shafiyev, delivering the opening remarks, underscored the continuous development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. He emphasized that fostering close cooperation with Central Asian countries is a top priority in Azerbaijan's foreign policy agenda. 

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel, in his address, highlighted the significant progress achieved in the bilateral relations over the past year. He remarked that a new phase in the relationship had already commenced, attributing this growth to high-level mutual visits. Ambassador Bayel specifically noted President Kasim Jomart Tokayev's visit to Azerbaijan in October the previous year and President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Kazakhstan in April of the current year. He cited a notable increase in trade turnover, with a 40 percent rise to $450 million observed in the previous year, and $300 million recorded in the first six months of the current year. Ambassador Bayel also highlighted the commencement of oil exports from Kazakhstan through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, framing the relations between the two nations as a vital component of broader regional cooperation. He expressed that both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan play pivotal roles in the region's geopolitical landscape.

Azerbaijan's ambassador to Kazakhstan, Agalar Atamoglanov, participated in the conference via video link, shedding light on the significant bilateral agreements signed between the two countries in recent years. He emphasized the growing importance of the Middle Corridor project, which has garnered attention from both regional countries and foreign investors. Atamoglanov further underlined the crucial role of the Intergovernmental Commission in maintaining and strengthening relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with the next commission meeting scheduled for later in the month. Discussing the Zangazur corridor, he highlighted its significance as a key branch of the Middle Corridor, emphasizing that its opening would have positive implications for the entire region.

Member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Aydos Sarim, addressed the attendees via video link, sharing insights from President Tokayev's address to the people of Kazakhstan during a joint parliamentary session. Sarim noted the president's emphasis on the Trans-Caspian route and highlighted the evolving geopolitical landscape in the region. He emphasized that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have elevated their cooperation to the level of strategic partnership and emphasized Kazakhstan's dedication to the development of crucial transport projects.

The roundtable also featured insights from members of both the Azerbaijani and Kazakh parliaments, as well as contributions from political scientist Zaur Mammadov and transport expert Rauf Agamirzayev. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including geopolitical considerations, the unique regional dynamics of the Caspian Sea, joint efforts against religious and ethnic radicalism, and the integration of the Turkic world within the context of regional projects.

As relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan continue to strengthen, this roundtable served as a testament to the commitment of both nations to fostering regional cooperation and exploring innovative avenues for partnership in various sectors, the Center for Analysis of International Relations notes.