24 May 2024 10:00

On 20-24 May 2024, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov, paid a visit to Japan.

Within the framework of the visit, the next round of political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan was held. The political consultations were led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elnur Mammadov, from the Azerbaijani side, and by the Deputy Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for Central Asia, the Caucasus and GUAM, Ambassador Masaki Ikegami, from the other side.

During the political consultations, the current state and prospects of cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, tourism, energy, interregional cooperation, humanitarian and other areas were discussed. Cooperation in important oil and gas projects between the two countries was positively assessed, and taking into account the targets of both countries in the direction of the use of green energy, prospects for joint activities in this field were reviewed. Japanese companies were invited to closely participate in the implementation of the “smart city”, “smart village”, as well as “Green Energy Zones” concepts.

In addition, discussions were conducted on the transport corridors passing through the territory of Azerbaijan, especially the East–West International Transport Corridor.

Furthermore, within the framework of the visit, meetings were organized between Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov and the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Hideki Murai, the President of the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Ambassador Japan Institute of International Affairs head Kenichirō Sasae, the head of the Japan–Azerbaijan Economic Committee and Executive Vice President for International Affairs of ITOCHU Corporation, Masahiro Imai, as well as the Chairman of the Japan–Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Akira Amari, and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoichi Fukazawa, and discussions were held on the course of bilateral relations and future cooperation opportunities.

The other side was informed about the normalization process of Armenia–Azerbaijan relations and the restoration and reconstruction works carried out in the territories liberated from occupation. At the same time, during the meetings, Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov provided the Japanese side with information on Azerbaijan’s activities within the framework of its chairmanship of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and presented to the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoichi Fukazawa, a letter of invitation addressed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, to participate in the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, which will launch COP29 on 12-13 November of the current year.

During the visit to Japan, Elnur Mammadov gave an interview to the well-known “JIJI Press” news agency.