Azerbaijan, Belgium discuss growing potential for relations

Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova has held a meeting with Julien de Fraipont, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Azerbaijan, to discuss the growing potential for Azerbaijani-Belgian relations.

Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties. The recent visit of the Belgian prime minister to Baku during the COP29 climate summit and his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev were highlighted as key moments reinforcing the importance of diplomatic engagement between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Gafarova emphasised the role of interparliamentary dialogue in strengthening bilateral relations, referencing her previous interactions with former Belgian parliamentary leaders. She noted that sustained contact, including mutual visits and active parliamentary friendship groups, contributes to stronger political and cultural understanding. Ambassador de Fraipont expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended to him during his stay in Azerbaijan and acknowledged the Belgian prime minister’s visit to Baku as a pivotal opportunity to enhance bilateral dialogue in both multilateral and bilateral formats.

He identified economic cooperation, transport, logistics, and maritime affairs as promising areas for expanded partnership. The ambassador also highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategic importance in ensuring Europe’s energy security and expressed support for advancing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU. During the meeting, Gafarova also provided an update on regional developments, including Azerbaijan’s reconstruction initiatives in territories liberated from occupation, the normalisation of relations with Armenia, the ongoing landmine threat, and other pressing regional issues.

By Naila Huseynova