Azerbaijan plans visa-free travel for Japanese citizens, FM announces

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi during his official visit to Japan, where he announced a plan to introduce a visa-free regime for all Japanese citizens visiting Azerbaijan.

He described it as a step aimed at facilitating travel, boosting business exchanges, promoting tourism, and enhancing people-to-people connections between the two countries, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan @Bayramov_Jeyhun met with the Foreign Minister of Japan @moteging during his official visit to Japan.

The meeting provided an opportunity for a comprehensive exchange of views on the current state and future prospects of… pic.twitter.com/WlanBOIjYs

— MFA Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 (@AzerbaijanMFA) June 10, 2026

In a post on X, it said the meeting allowed for a broad exchange of views on the current state and future direction of bilateral relations.

According to the ministry, both sides reviewed progress achieved across multiple areas and discussed practical measures to further strengthen cooperation in line with the strategic priorities of Azerbaijan and Japan.

The post also said the ministers held detailed discussions covering political dialogue, economic cooperation, trade, investment, energy, transport and logistics, digital transformation, innovation, education, tourism, and people-to-people ties. They emphasised the need to diversify the bilateral agenda and develop new opportunities for cooperation in both traditional and emerging sectors.

“Noting that 2027 will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Japan, the sides welcomed the steady and successful development of bilateral ties based on mutual respect, trust, friendship, and constructive partnership. They expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.

The Ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining active high-level contacts, reciprocal visits, and regular political consultations as key mechanisms for advancing bilateral relations and ensuring the effective implementation of joint initiatives. They also highlighted the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy, cultural exchanges, and academic cooperation in fostering closer understanding between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Japan.

Particular attention was devoted to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, green technologies, decarbonization, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and high-tech industries.

The Ministers underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy security and connectivity, noting Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable partner in regional transport and logistics networks linking Asia and Europe. They exchanged views on the potential for enhanced collaboration in transport infrastructure, supply chains, and digital connectivity initiatives.

The sides also highlighted the valuable contribution of the Azerbaijan–Japan Joint Economic Commission to the advancement of economic cooperation and welcomed efforts aimed at expanding commercial and investment ties. They stressed the importance of accelerating work on the Azerbaijan–Japan Investment Agreement, which would provide an enhanced legal framework for investment protection and contribute to creating new opportunities for businesses in both countries.

The Ministers further exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest. Minister Bayramov briefed his Japanese counterpart on the post-conflict situation in the region, ongoing reconstruction and development efforts in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan’s broader regional connectivity and economic cooperation initiatives.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Azerbaijan and Japan to further strengthening their partnership and exploring new avenues for cooperation in the years ahead. Both sides expressed confidence that the upcoming 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027 would provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the bilateral relationship and chart an ambitious agenda for the future,” the ministry wrote.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov