Amid the upcoming visit of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Baku, an interview with the President of Kazakhstan has been published by the Azerbaijani news agency apa.az. Tokayev highlighted the historical moment of his official visit to Azerbaijan in August 2022, emphasizing the strong ties between the two nations. He praised the longstanding cooperation and mutual support between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, attributing the success to the deep-rooted fraternal bonds between their peoples.
The personal rapport between President Tokayev and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has also played a crucial role in enhancing mutual understanding across various areas of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Tokayev extended congratulations to President Aliyev on his recent presidential election victory, acknowledging his contributions to national unity, territorial integrity, and dynamic state development.
Tokayev's official visit to Azerbaijan in 2022 marked a breakthrough in the partnership between Baku and Astana. The visit coincided with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, culminating in the signing of a Joint Declaration to strengthen strategic ties and deepen alliance cooperation, ushering in a new phase of collaboration.
The Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations are on the rise, with efforts focused on expanding contacts in political, trade, economic, transit-transport, energy, agricultural, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. The two countries have established Business and Expert Councils to further enhance cooperation. The upcoming High Interstate Council meeting during Tokayev's visit aims to bolster their interaction with a new set of agreements ready for signing.
Since 2020, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has nearly quintupled, reaching $529 million. Both countries have embarked on significant projects of mutual importance, such as expanding the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, laying fiber-optic communication lines and energy cables along the Caspian Sea floor, and facilitating the export of oil and uranium through Azerbaijan.
Several joint initiatives focus on strengthening cultural ties and increasing tourist flows between the two nations. The overarching goal is to establish robust relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in both strategic and alliance contexts, with a shared commitment to achieving this objective through collaborative efforts.
During the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, a significant decision was made for Kazakhstan to contribute to the reconstruction of Karabakh. Kazakhstan proposed building a Children's Creativity Center in the city of Fizuli as a gift to the Azerbaijani people, named after the prominent Kazakh composer Kurmangazy.
The construction of the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center will be officially inaugurated during Tokayev's current visit, serving as a symbol of friendship, brotherhood, and mutual support between the two countries and peoples. The exchange of projects and collaborations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the future is expected to further strengthen their bonds.
Both countries share a commitment to expeditiously reaching a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Kazakhstan, as an initiator and advocate of international peace initiatives, stands ready to support any efforts aimed at peaceful and stable development in the Eurasian region.
President Ilham Aliyev's emphasis on the Turkic world and Azerbaijan's fraternal relations with all member states of the Turkic Council aligns with Kazakhstan's vision for the organization. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, as founders of the Turkic Council, have been instrumental in advancing the integration of the Turkic world, with a shared perspective on the organization's institutional development.
The vast potential of the Turkic Council is underscored by the total area of approximately 4.5 million square kilometers, a combined GDP exceeding $1.5 trillion, and a population of over 160 million people. The trade turnover within the Turkic Council has reached $42.3 billion, with a total trade turnover of around $1.3 trillion with the world.
Both countries actively participate in all six international Turkic organizations, reflecting their aligned vision for the Turkic world's integration. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan's collaboration within the Turkic Council is poised to strengthen their joint efforts and advance integration processes within the organization.
The upcoming World Nomad Games in Astana from September 8 to 14 invite Azerbaijani athletes to participate, fostering closer ties between the two nations through sports and cultural exchange.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITR) has gained increasing significance for the region and the world. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are actively enhancing their transport and logistics capabilities to capitalize on their strategic geographical locations.
Kazakhstan aims to repair 11,000 km of railways and construct over 5,000 km of new railways by 2030, significantly enhancing the country's transportation capabilities. The TCITR, also known as the Middle Corridor, has seen a surge in freight volume, doubling in 2022 and increasing by 65% in 2023 to 2.7 million tons.
The future of the TCITR holds immense potential, with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan playing pivotal roles in the project's realization. The development of this corridor will not only boost trade dynamics but also strengthen the countries' positions as a bridge between East and West.
The Caspian Sea serves as a unifying factor for Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other coastal countries. Both countries recognize the importance of sustainable cooperation in utilizing the sea's resources while ensuring environmental protection.
The Caspian Convention signed in August 2018 laid the foundation for harmonious cooperation among the littoral states and rational use of the sea's resources. Kazakhstan is committed to fostering mutually beneficial interactions with its Caspian neighbors, emphasizing the economic potential of the sea.
In light of the pressing challenges posed by climate change, Kazakhstan is working towards carbon neutrality by 2060. Despite the country's heavy reliance on coal for 70% of its electricity generation, Kazakhstan boasts immense potential for green energy production.
One of the most promising projects is the green hydrogen production initiative in the Mangystau region, involving a €50 billion joint venture with the German-Swedish company Svevind Energy Group. Kazakhstan's transition to sustainable energy sources is further supported by collaborations with leading global companies such as ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia and Masdar from the UAE.
Azerbaijan has also made significant strides in promoting green energy and renewable resources. The country is a successful electricity supplier to external markets and actively participates in the Black Sea Energy initiative as part of the European Global Gateway initiative.
Both countries are engaged in coordinating efforts and synchronizing the further development of their energy systems, including potential sustainable energy connections. The agreement reached between Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan on establishing a joint venture for exporting electricity to Europe highlights the collaborative efforts in the energy sector.
As Baku prepares to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kazakhstan is gearing up to host two major climate summits under the auspices of the UN in the coming years. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge between the two countries in this regard is essential for advancing climate action and sustainable development.
Kazakhstan's initiative to host the Central Asian Regional Climate Summit in 2026 aims to promote effective climate policies and investment strategies accelerating the transition to sustainable energy in Central Asian countries. This summit will facilitate the development of joint strategies to reduce carbon emissions in the region.
The interview concluded with warm wishes from President Tokayev to the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the Nauryz holiday, emphasizing the shared heritage, unity, and future prospects of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Nauryz serves as a symbol of renewal, unity, and harmony, reflecting the deep spiritual connection between the two nations. President Tokayev extended his best wishes for happiness and prosperity to the Azerbaijani people, highlighting the importance of Nauryz in strengthening the bond between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
