President Aliyev, President Mattarella Discuss Strategic Partnership in Baku
Baku, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting today with Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic, underscoring the enduring friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.
Welcoming President Mattarella, President Aliyev emphasized the significance of the Italian leader’s visit, noting that it marks his second official trip to Azerbaijan. “We attach great importance to your visit. This is a manifestation of the relations of friendship and partnership between Italy and Azerbaijan,” he said.
President Aliyev highlighted the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, spanning energy, industrial production, and education. He reaffirmed the successful implementation of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed five years ago, and noted Italy’s consistent support for Azerbaijan’s efforts to strengthen ties with the European Union.
“Of course, there are many significant results in the energy sector. We will now continue this discussion in a broader format. The implementation of new projects in energy, both bilaterally with Italy and with the European Union, is very important, and we are successfully working on these issues,” President Aliyev stated.
Looking ahead, the Azerbaijani President highlighted a key upcoming event: the opening of the new building of the Italy-Azerbaijan University. “Only three years have passed from the start of the project to its implementation. Hundreds of students are already involved in education. They will become ambassadors of Italian-Azerbaijani friendship, receiving a quality education and further strengthening the bond between our countries,” he said.
In his remarks, President Mattarella expressed pleasure at visiting Baku after seven years, emphasizing the depth of friendship and strategic cooperation between Italy and Azerbaijan. “Your visit to Rome is another vivid example of our friendly relations. These relations continue to expand, cover multiple areas, and are of great importance for the future,” he said.
President Mattarella also highlighted the cultural dimension of bilateral ties, expressing honor in participating in the opening of the new university campus alongside President Aliyev. “This partnership is not limited to the economic sphere. It demonstrates the high level of cultural relations between our countries and opens new horizons for cooperation among our young people,” he added.
The meeting reinforced the strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Italy, with both leaders affirming their commitment to further expand collaboration in strategic sectors.
