COP29: President Aliyev strengthens ties with ICESCO, global sports leaders, Malaysia PHOTO

On November 17, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at the COP29 summit.

During the meeting, President Aliyev expressed his gratitude to AlMalik for attending the event and acknowledged the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and ICESCO, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azertag.

The president also highlighted the positive impressions left by the visit of Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva, to ICESCO’s headquarters in Morocco, where she met with AlMalik. President Aliyev thanked the director-general for the warm hospitality extended during the visit.

Both sides expressed mutual confidence in further strengthening bilateral ties and discussed future cooperation opportunities.

Talks on sports cooperation at COP29

Later on the same day, President Aliyev met with Thomas Konietzko, President of the International Canoe Federation, Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of the World Rowing Federation, and Claudio Schermi, President of the International Dragon Boat Federation.

Konietzko praised Baku as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and commended the high-level organization of the rowing event taking place as part of COP29. He emphasized the excellent conditions provided for the event, acknowledging Azerbaijan’s contribution to environmental protection through its support for sports like rowing.

President Aliyev thanked the leaders for their participation in COP29 and noted that despite the short preparation time, the organizational efforts were swiftly carried out. Konietzko shared his admiration for Azerbaijan’s restoration projects in Karabakh and Sugovushan and expressed appreciation for the newly created rowing facilities.

Strengthening Ties with Malaysia and UN-HABITAT

President Aliyev also met with Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and former Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). Sharif thanked the President for including her in the Advisory Committee of COP29 and praised the high-level organization of the event.

She also acknowledged Azerbaijan’s role in advancing urban planning and its future hosting of the World Urban Forum in 2026.

The leaders discussed the significant achievements of Azerbaijan in urban development, particularly in Baku and the reconstruction of territories liberated from occupation. They also explored the possibility of establishing Baku and Kuala Lumpur as twin cities, fostering closer cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, culture, and tourism.

Conclusion

These high-level meetings at COP29 highlight Azerbaijan's growing role in international cooperation across multiple sectors, including education, sports, and urban development. The ongoing discussions and partnerships demonstrate the country’s commitment to strengthening its global ties and addressing key challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development.

By Khagan Isayev