Sahiba Gafarova: Azerbaijan attaches great importance to developing relations with African countries

Azerbaijan attaches great importance to developing relations with African countries, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said during a meeting with Mozambique's Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy as part of her working visit to Serbia, Report informs, citing the parliament's Press and Public Relations Department.

The meeting included an exchange of views on the current state of relations between the two countries and prospects for their development.

Gafarova spoke about the importance of cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement, highlighting the work carried out during Azerbaijan's four-year chairmanship of the organization, the activities of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network established on the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, and the achievements made during Azerbaijan's chairmanship.

The sides also discussed the current state of bilateral relations in a number of areas and exchanged views on their further development. Gafarova recalled her meeting with Speaker of Mozambique's Assembly of the Republic Margarida Talapa, who visited Azerbaijan in June this year to participate in the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, and emphasized the importance of cooperation and mutual support within international organizations.

During the conversation, the sides noted that there were good opportunities to develop cooperation between the parliaments and in other areas, and exchanged views on organizing reciprocal visits.

Maria Benvinda Levy expressed satisfaction with the current state of relations between Mozambique and Azerbaijan. She thanked Azerbaijan for enabling Mozambican students and diplomats to participate in programs held in the country and noted that Azerbaijan had also supported Mozambique during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prime minister said the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network was an important platform for discussing a range of issues and noted that Mozambique also participates in its activities.

The meeting also addressed prospects for developing interparliamentary, educational, humanitarian and other ties, as well as other issues of mutual interest.