Baku, Tokyo engage in discussions on trade, energy, and COP29 PHOTO

On May 20, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov embarked on a visit to Japan.

According to statements from the Foreign Ministry to Caliber.Az, the visit included convening the next round of political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Japan. These consultations covered various dimensions of cooperation between the two nations, including trade, economics, tourism, energy, and humanitarian efforts.

The discussions highlighted the positive assessment of cooperation in oil and gas projects, as well as the exploration of opportunities for joint endeavours in green energy initiatives. Japanese companies were also invited to contribute to Smart City and Smart Village concepts in Azerbaijan. Moreover, transportation corridors were addressed, notably the East-West international transport corridor passing through Azerbaijan.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Mammadov held meetings with several Japanese officials to discuss the enhancement of Azerbaijani-Japanese relations. He provided updates on the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the ongoing reconstruction and construction efforts in recently liberated territories.

Additionally, preparations for Azerbaijan's chairmanship of COP29 were discussed, and President Ilham Aliyev's invitation to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to attend the Summit of World Leaders on Climate Action, to be held during COP29 on November 12-13, was conveyed through Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Yoichi Fukazawa.

As part of the visit, Deputy Minister Mammadov also granted an interview to the Japanese news agency JIJI Press.