Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan relations developing on ascending line - President

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called Baku the pearl of the Caspian region and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as he met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Baku.

He congratulated President Ilham Aliyev and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the epochal event - ensuring the territorial integrity of the country in accordance with international law and resolutions of the UN Security Council, Report informs.

"This has become possible thanks to your strong leadership, a far-sighted and wise policy aimed at strengthening statehood, improving the welfare of the people, and raising Baku's authority in the international community. I think this is a truly historic event," Tokayev underlined.

He noted that relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are developing on an ascending line.

“New projects are emerging. We do not have any questions for each other. We are true strategic partners, practically neighbors across the Caspian Sea. The adoption of the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Strategic Relations and Deepening Allied Cooperation, as well as the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council was a milestone. I made a decision to bring a full delegation to Baku, as I believe that today's meeting is, in fact, a full-format, intense negotiations with Azerbaijan and a good opportunity to exchange views on a wide range of issues of interaction between the two countries,” the Kazakh president added.

Addressing the Baku-hosted United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia – SPECA Summit, President Tokayev said that Kazakhstan welcomes Azerbaijan's contribution to the development of the SPECA.

According to him, Kazakhstan was the initiator of a UN special program back in 1997, which later turned into an effective platform for regional cooperation.

"Last year, under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, we strengthened the key areas of the program and took specific steps in terms of practical implementation," he said.

Tokayev also noted that Kazakhstan is ready to continue cooperation under the North-South international transport corridor project.

According to him, Kazakhstan expects a significant increase in cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor route.

“It is of crucial importance for our countries to carry out research on environmental protection and transboundary water resources management,” he added.