Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan Affirm Commitment to Active Cooperation in All Areas

During a joint press conference in Baku on April 24, 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov affirmed their commitment to active cooperation between the two countries in all areas. The leaders signed a package of 18 bilateral agreements, including a Joint Declaration on establishing deeper strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

President Aliyev stated that the signed documents will "predetermine the future development of our relations" and that the two countries are actively cooperating in the trade and economic sphere. He announced that the authorized fund of the Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz Development Fund has been quadrupled from $25 million to $100 million to support more investment projects in Kyrgyzstan. "$100 million is not the limit," Aliyev noted, emphasizing that the fund will continue to back joint ventures between the two nations.

The leaders discussed a wide range of issues during the 2nd meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan Interstate Council, including strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture, culture, and humanitarian spheres. They noted that the high-level talks and agreements reached over the past two years have given a significant impetus to cooperation and filled the interaction between the two countries with new, qualitative content.

Why this matters: The strengthening of ties between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan reflects the growing importance of regional cooperation in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The expansion of the joint investment fund and the signing of numerous bilateral agreements demonstrate the commitment of both countries to deepening their strategic partnership across various sectors.

President Zhaparov expressed confidence that the visit will give a great impetus to deepening relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. He stated that the signing of the Joint Declaration officially affirms the deeper strategic nature of the bilateral relationship that has developed in practice. The two leaders also attended the unveiling of a monument to famous Kyrgyz novelist Chinghiz Aitmatov in Baku, highlighting the cultural ties between the two countries.

Key Takeaways

• Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan signed 18 bilateral agreements, including a strategic partnership.
• The authorized fund of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan Development Fund quadrupled to $100 million.
• The leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, transportation, and more.
• The strengthening of ties reflects growing regional cooperation in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
• The Joint Declaration affirms the deeper strategic nature of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan relationship.