BAKU: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev today expressed his country’s eagerness to deepen ties with Bangladesh and elevate the bilateral relationship to new heights. This interest was conveyed during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the COP29 global climate conference held in the Azerbaijan capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, President Aliyev announced plans for a high-level Azerbaijani government delegation to visit Bangladesh early next year. The visit aims to facilitate the signing of a comprehensive arrangement deal with Dhaka. President Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s keenness to invest in Bangladesh and discussed the prospects of opening an embassy in Dhaka, as both countries anticipate increasing opportunities for trade, commerce, and international cooperation.
President Aliyev also commended the student-led July August revolution in Bangladesh, noting that he has been following the developments closely. He extended his congratulation
s to Prof Muhammad Yunus for assuming leadership of the interim government in Bangladesh, expressing confidence that the nation would flourish under his guidance. “Your task is very challenging. But I know you are the one who can face the challenge,” President Aliyev remarked.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus emphasized the importance of stronger ties between the two countries. He highlighted the potential for mutual prosperity through increased bilateral trade, enhanced people-to-people interactions, and cooperation in major international forums. Prof Yunus also underscored the significance of job opportunities for Bangladeshis in the oil-rich central Asian nation, noting that many have found employment in Azerbaijan’s shipbuilding industry in recent years.
President Aliyev shared insights into how Azerbaijan has tackled corruption through the digitalisation of services, expressing interest in sharing these experiences with Bangladesh. The meeting was attended by Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser;
Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator of SDG Affairs; and M. Amanul Haq, Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan.