Baku Says Jaishankar Visit Marks Next Step in India Partnership
Baku, October 23
Azerbaijan has expressed confidence that its relationship with India is advancing toward 'new heights,' with Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov calling External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's Baku trip a 'very important meeting.'
Bayramov said cooperation prospects are growing across energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and transport corridors between the two countries.
Talks described as productive
Speaking after his meeting with Jaishankar, Bayramov said the discussions were long, positive and meaningful. They focused on bilateral relations as well as pressing regional and global matters.
He described the visit as a logical continuation of the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the SCO summit in Bishkek last month.
Economic footprint
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached around $600 million this year, Bayramov said. He emphasised that the figure does not fully reflect the real potential for trade.
He noted that ONGC has increased its stake in a major oil and gas project in Azerbaijan. Further, more than 1,000 Indian companies are working in the country.
Transport and sectoral cooperation
Bayramov listed energy, agriculture and pharmaceuticals as areas with considerable promise. Given Azerbaijan's location, he said there is wide scope for cooperation on transport corridors connecting east-west and north-south routes.
People-to-people engagement
He pointed to steady personal connections, noting that two direct flights currently operate between Baku and Delhi. This year, about 500 Indian students enrolled in Azerbaijani universities. Over the last few years, more than 30 Indian films have been shot in Azerbaijan.
Regional and global concerns
According to Bayramov, the two leaders discussed the South Caucasus situation, the normalisation of ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Middle East tensions and the Russia-Ukraine war.
'We believe this visit and the various issues discussed will have a positive effect on the development of bilateral relations,' he said.
Meeting with Aliyev
Earlier on Friday, Jaishankar met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. The discussions centred on strengthening ties between the two countries.
Jaishankar posted on X that he was pleased to meet Aliyev in Baku that morning. He conveyed greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said they had discussed strengthening bilateral ties. He also appreciated Aliyev's positive views on the shared effort.