Azerbaijan, African countries discuss new partnership opportunities

A conference dedicated to Africa Day, marked internationally every year, was held with the organization of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization and Baku State University, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The conference, held under the theme "Rising Continent, New Partnerships," was attended by ambassadors of African countries accredited in Azerbaijan, chairs of the Milli Majlis working groups on interparliamentary relations between Azerbaijan and African countries, representatives of state institutions, heads of higher education institutions, experts, as well as African students studying in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev spoke about the growing geopolitical and economic importance of the African continent and emphasized that high-level political contacts between Azerbaijan and African countries have increased especially in recent years, while there is major potential promising significant growth in the economic sphere.

Rafiyev also touched on areas of humanitarian cooperation, drawing attention to projects implemented through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA), as well as educational opportunities offered to African youth under the international scholarship program named after National Leader Heydar Aliyev.

Later, Deputy Minister of Science and Education Kenan Karimzada, Baku State University Rector Elchin Babayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco to Azerbaijan and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Adil Embarch delivered speeches. A video address by African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was also shown at the opening ceremony.

As part of the conference, two panel discussions were held on "Azerbaijan-Africa relations: current situation and strategic opportunities" and "Agenda 2063 and Africa's role in the evolving system of international relations."

The discussions were attended by the ambassadors of Somalia, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan and Eswatini, Azerbaijan's ambassadors to Ethiopia and Kenya, Foreign Ministry officials from Uganda and Tanzania, as well as the chairs of the Milli Majlis interparliamentary working groups with Algeria and Kenya.

A presentation on the "ASAN service model in Africa" was also held during the event.

The conference featured a cultural program performed by African students and a special video presentation on the history of the African continent.

An exhibition organized as part of the conference program displayed photos reflecting President Ilham Aliyev"s meetings with African leaders, as well as other high-level contacts.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference, Guinea-Bissau's Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Communities, Fatumata Jau, emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and African countries are strategic in nature.