Today, we are pleased to welcome our dear friend and brother, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, in Azerbaijan on a state visit. The visit will contribute to the strengthening of friendly and brotherly relations between our countries.
We have just signed documents that will in many respects predetermine the future development of our relations. Each of them is of great importance. I would like to particularly note the Joint Declaration we signed with Sadyr Nurgozhoevich. The agenda of our interaction is quite extensive. Today, both in a narrow and expanded format, we have gone over the main issues of our interaction and held a successful second meeting of the Interstate Council, listened to information from heads of relevant agencies and issued relevant instructions. I am confident that the visit and its results will be clearly visible in practical terms, in terms of strengthening our interaction, increasing the trade turnover and cooperation in all areas.
We have a good tradition of making reciprocal visits eve
ry year. I was in Kyrgyzstan last year and the year before last, and Sadyr Nurgozhoevich also visited us last year and the year before last. We will still have the opportunity to meet in Shusha in Azerbaijan in the summer during the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States. I have also invited Sadyr Nurgozhoevich to participate in the COP29 international conference in November. Each meeting is important and valuable in terms of strengthening interaction, our communication, as well as for the resolution of important issues of bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation.
Azerbaijan participated as a guest of honor in the 5th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. I was invited by my colleague brothers. Just recently, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan was invited to a ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. All this is natural, because Azerbaijan and Central Asia are bound together by centuries-old ties of cooperation, friendshi
p and interaction. Today, the region of Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan, as part of the Caspian and the South Caucasus regions, are of great importance in terms of energy resources, transportation routes and trade. We are seeing great potential here. Most importantly, we are strengthening interaction with our traditional partners from brotherly countries. Among them, cooperation with Kyrgyzstan is of particular importance.
I am very pleased that we actively cooperate in the trade and economic sphere. Today we heard the figures of a multiple increase in trade, though the absolute figures are not very large yet. However, there is a tendency to increase this potential. An addendum to the agreement on the authorized fund of the Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz Development Fund was also signed today. We have quadrupled the authorized fund from 25 million to 100 million dollars. The main reason is that there are a lot of applications. We have been informed that more than 40 applications have been submitted to the F
und for realization of investment projects in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, I think that 100 million dollars is not the limit either. And we gave a joint instruction to relevant government agencies in order to quickly launch the mechanism of implementation of projects within the framework of the joint investment fund.
But this is not the only mechanism for increasing turnover. We have other forms of investment policy. As was reported today, the construction of a five-star hotel financed by Azerbaijan has already begun on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, which, as we were promised, will be ready by the end of next year.
I would like to express my special gratitude to Sadyr Nurgozhoevich for his support in the restoration and reconstruction of the liberated territories. On the initiative of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan will be building a secondary school in the Aghdam district at its own expense. Tomorrow, we will visit the Fuzuli and Aghdam districts together and take part in the laying of the foundation st
one of the school. We are grateful for such brotherly support. It is very valuable to us.
Today we also went over through the energy and transportation spheres in detail. We have outlined the potential there as well. We are interested in renewable energy investment projects in Kyrgyzstan. As for the transport sector, both Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan are implementing large-scale transport projects, the construction of railroads, and, of course, we should already start consultations on coordination of transport routes in terms of digitalization and in terms of tariff policy in order to make the route through the Caspian Sea, Central Asia to Europe attractive not only in terms of distance, but also in terms of commercial viability.
We can talk a lot about the format of bilateral cooperation. Of course, it is impossible not to recall that the Days of Culture of Kyrgyzstan in Azerbaijan are taking place now. Today, my colleague and I will participate in the opening of a monument to the great son of the Kyrgyz peop
le, Chingiz Aitmatov, in Baku, which is a tribute to his memory, as well as another symbol of Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani brotherhood.
We are determined to continue active cooperation in all areas. I must say that the documents signed today are not all the documents that are being signed. Another part of the documents is signed in relevant state agencies. So, we are also creating a solid legislative base for our relations.
Once again, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich, you are welcome! I wish you and all our friends from Kyrgyzstan a pleasant time in Azerbaijan.
Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency