During his official visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ali Asadov.
The meeting was held in Baku, where both parties discussed the expansion of political, economic, commercial, and transit relations between Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund conveyed his appreciation to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the official invitation and the warm reception extended to the delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attending the 17th ECO Summit.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs requested the formal recognition and accreditation of the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador by the Republic of Azerbaijan, as part of efforts to enhance Afghanistan’s diplomatic presence through the upgrading of its embassy in Baku and to further consolidate bilateral political ties.
Al-Haj Mullah Baradar invited Azerbaijan to invest in Afghanistan’s oil and gas extraction and processing industries, the expansion of its railway network, and the development of solar and wind energy projects. He also encouraged the sharing of Azerbaijani expertise with the Afghan side.
He further requested Azerbaijani cooperation and knowledge-sharing in the areas of agricultural mechanization, water resource management, implementation of public service programs, demining operations, and vocational education.
During the meeting, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund underscored the importance of maintaining the operational status of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor and addressing its current challenges. He affirmed that the Islamic Emirate, under its economy-focused policies, is committed to regional connectivity and considers the Lapis Lazuli Corridor essential for enhancing trade and transit between Afghanistan and regional states.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ali Asadov, in his remarks during the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, acknowledged Afghanistan as an ancient nation with a rich cultural heritage and long-standing history. He highlighted the religious, spiritual, historical, and cultural affinity between the peoples of Afghanistan and Azerbaijan, and expressed the Azerbaijani people’s deep respect for the Afghan nation. He remarked, “Like us, you also endured great hardships in pursuit of independence, and today you have an independent and dignified country.”
Prime Minister Asadov reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s strong interest in deepening relations with Afghanistan through ECO mechanisms, as well as bilateral and trilateral cooperation frameworks.
He stated, “We have consistently worked toward cooperation with Afghanistan and will continue our efforts. Afghanistan’s rapid economic development is promising, and we are ready to continue joint efforts particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and economic cooperation.”
Mr. Asadov also proposed the reactivation of the Joint Economic Commission between the two countries to further strengthen economic ties. He emphasized that the Lapis Lazuli Corridor remains a strategic priority for Azerbaijan, and that his government is committed to implementing the resolutions of the recent meeting of transport ministers from the participating countries.
He additionally referenced the trilateral working group between Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, noting that its inaugural meeting was held in Kabul and that the next session will take place soon in Uzbekistan, with expectations of discussing further areas of cooperation.
The Prime Minister of Azerbaijan expressed his country’s willingness to collaborate and share technical expertise with Afghanistan in the fields of mineral exploration and extraction, renewable energy development, water management, agricultural mechanization, and railway infrastructure.
He also announced Azerbaijan’s support for facilitating the transit of Afghan coal to Turkey through Azerbaijani territory.
Mr. Ali Asadov pledged cooperation in easing visa procedures for Afghan entrepreneurs, granting educational scholarships to Afghan students, launching capacity-building initiatives, and reviewing the cases of Afghan nationals currently detained in Azerbaijan.
In conclusion, both sides described the meeting as a valuable platform for enhancing political and economic relations between Afghanistan and Azerbaijan and emphasized the importance of initiating and sustaining concrete efforts in the areas discussed.
