(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Sabina Mammadli read more Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Italian
Enterprises and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso discussed energy
cooperation, underscoring that Italy is Azerbaijan's largest
trading partner, Azernews reports per Foreign Ministry.
The meeting was held as part of the official visit of the
Italian delegation to Baku, during which he also attended the
groundbreaking ceremony for a 1,280-MW thermal power plant, the
largest in Azerbaijan's independence period.
At the meeting with the Azerbaijani foreign minister, the
parties eyed effective economic collaboration between the two
countries, emphasizing the particular importance of the Southern
Gas Corridor and the TAP Gas Pipeline in expanding energy
cooperation.
Jeyhun Bayramov hailed the development of bilateral relations,
noting the importance of high-level mutual visits, such as the
visit of Italian President Sergio Mattarella to Azerbaijan in 2018,
President Aliyev's visit to Italy in 2020 and 2022, and similar
contacts at the highest level.
The Azerbaijani minister outlined the significance of the
foundation of a new 1,280 MW thermal power plant in Mingachevir for
the further enhancement of bilateral ties and noted that oil, gas,
and power industry projects play a paramount role in the
development and widening the ties between the two nations.
In terms of education, the Azerbaijani minister emphasized the
importance of the Italy-Azerbaijan University, founded in 2022, as
part of the visit of former Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio
to Baku. He added that the building of the university continues
apace.
Besides, he expressed gratitude to Italy for supporting the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, briefed on the
reconstruction work carried out on the liberated lands, and the
process of normalizing relations with Armenia. Stressing Italy's
involvement in the recovery work on liberated lands, Bayramov
expressed satisfaction that the most important projects for the
country are entrusted to Italian companies.
In his turn, Urso underlined the importance of strategic
dialogue and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy, stressing
the existence of broad prospects for cooperation between the two
countries.
Additionally, the sides exchanged views on renewable energy
issues, agricultural machinery, the pharmaceutical industry,
culture, and other areas of mutual interest.
To recap, a groundbreaking ceremony for a 1,280-MW thermal power
plant, the largest in Azerbaijan's independence period was held
yesterday at the Gulustan Palace in Baku. During the ceremony, the
cooperation between Azerbaijan's Azerenergy and the Italian company
Ansaldo was especially pointed out.
'The participation of the Italian company in the construction of
this station is not accidental. Italy is our strategic partner. Two
documents on strategic partnership have been signed between Italy
and Azerbaijan, high-level reciprocal visits have been organized.
Starting from January of this year, three ministers of the new
Italian government have already visited Azerbaijan - the minister
of defense, the minister of energy, and today the minister of
Enterprises and Made in Italy. In just one month, i.e. the first
visit was on January 11, three ministers of the new government have
visited Azerbaijan. This shows how advanced our relations really
are,' President Aliyev said in his address to the groundbreaking
ceremony on February 14.
The diplomatic relations between the two countries were
established on May 8, 1992. Italy opened its first embassy in the
South Caucasus in Azerbaijan in 1997 and the embassy of Azerbaijan
in Italy has been functioning since 2003.
Italy was one of the first countries to express support for
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, as well as an interest in
participating in restoration efforts in Azerbaijan's liberated
territories.
Azerbaijan is a major supplier of energy to Italy. Over 100
Italian companies operate in various sectors in Azerbaijan.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @sabinammdl