(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 2. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev is on a working visit to Italy at the
invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Trend reports.
The visit is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
The purpose of the visit is to discuss current issues in a
number of areas in the process of implementing the Joint
Declaration on strengthening a multifaceted strategic partnership
signed between Azerbaijan and Italy during the state visit of
President Ilham Aliyev to the country in February 2020, further
expanding cooperation in these areas, and determining the next
steps oriented on results.
It's expected that President Ilham Aliyev will take part as the
main guest in the international forum held annually in Cernobbio
(Italy) by the The European House – Ambrosetti analytical center,
founded in 1965. The center is a leading think tank in the field of
management and consulting services in Italy. It's expected that
President Ilham Aliyev will make a speech on 'Azerbaijan's role in
ensuring energy security' at the main plenary session of this
forum.
The visit is carried out during the interim government of Italy.
Traditionally, during such periods, no foreign visits to Italy are
made, no meetings with foreign official delegations are held, and
no decisions are made on domestic and foreign policy issues. The
fact that the visit of President Ilham Aliyev took place despite
the limited activity of the government, testifies to the great
importance that Italy attaches to strategic relations with
Azerbaijan.
Italy is the number one political, economic and trade partner of
Azerbaijan among the member states of the European Union. In
particular, Rome actively supports the strengthening of
Azerbaijan's cooperation with the European Union and NATO.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Italy reached a new, higher
level with the signing of the 'Joint declaration on strengthening
the multifaceted strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and
Italy' during the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to the
country on February 19 through 21, 2020.
Within the framework of this document, the parties expressed
their readiness to further strengthen the strategic partnership in
all areas. Another important aspect of the joint declaration is
that it was the first such document signed by Azerbaijan with a G7
country.
Trade and economic cooperation is of particular importance in
relations between Azerbaijan and Italy. In 2021, the volume of
trade between the two countries reached the level of the
pre-COVID-19 period ($9 billion), and in the first eight months of
2022, it amounted to more than $11 billion, growing compared to the
same period of last year.
Azerbaijan is Italy's largest trading partner among the
countries of the South Caucasus. More than 90 percent of Italy's
trade in this region accounts for Azerbaijan.
The energy cooperation is at a high level. Azerbaijan ranks
first in terms of oil supplies to Italy and third in terms of gas
supplies. The Southern Gas Corridor and its section Trans Adriatic
Gas Pipeline (TAP) are an important factor in strengthening
bilateral energy cooperation and Italy's energy security.
TAP currently supplies about 10 percent of Italy's gas needs. As
a result of the agreement reached with the European Union on
increasing the volume of gas transported by Azerbaijan to Europe,
this figure will double.
Currently, more than 100 Italian companies operate in Azerbaijan
in such areas as industry, construction, trade, and agriculture. A
number of companies are engaged in restoration and construction
work in the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenian
occupation, and negotiations are underway with other interested
companies.
In recent years, cooperation between the two countries in the
field of culture and humanitarian activities has been dynamically
developing. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the projects and events
organized in Italy by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation made a great
contribution to the development of relations and contacts between
the peoples of the two countries in the field of culture.
As an indicator of the high level of cultural ties between
Azerbaijan and Italy, 2020 was declared the Year of Azerbaijani
Culture in Italy.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Italy in the field of education
began to expand on June 1, 2002 with the signing in Baku of the
agreement on cooperation in the field of culture, science and
technology between the governments. The most significant
achievement between the two countries in the field of education was
the agreement on the establishment of the Italian-Azerbaijani
University in Baku during the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev
to Italy in February 2020.
As part of that visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed
between ADA University and Luiss Guido Carli University in Italy.
Over the past period, conceptual and strategic documents of the
Italian-Azerbaijani University have been prepared, the University
of Bologna, Polytechnic University of Turin, Polytechnic University
of Milan and the University of Rome La Sapienza, as well as the
Luiss University, have been identified as partners.
Following this successful cooperation, a ceremony of exchanging
signed agreements on academic cooperation between ADA University
and five leading Italian higher educational institutions - Luiss
Guido Carli University, Sapienza University of Rome, Turin
Polytechnic University, University of Bologna and Polytechnic
University of Milan was held in Rome on September 1 in connection
with the definition of the framework for cooperation on the
Italian-Azerbaijani University, and the creation of faculties and
programs.
The event, which took place in the new building of the
Azerbaijani Embassy in Italy, was attended by President Ilham
Aliyev. As the head of state noted in his speech, the ceremony
testifies that in the future Azerbaijan and Italy will act as
strategic partners in the field of education as well.
Given all the above, this visit of the Azerbaijani president,
which has already begun very successfully, will open a new page in
cooperation in various fields.
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