On March 13, a round table within the framework of the third meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Expert Council was organized in a hybrid format.

Farid Shafiyev, the Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), pointed out that the bilateral political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Kazahstan is at a high level. Highlighting the increased mutual interest, Farid Shafiyev noted that the parties are working on several projects of strategic importance in the fields of energy and transport. 

“The volume of bilateral trade turnover, as well as cargo transportation through the Middle Corridor, is increasing. Over the past two years, we have witnessed significant progress in the elimination of existing obstacles in the customs, as well as in the bureaucratic areas related to the Middle Corridor. My overall assessment is positive.”

Speaking about the growing global influence of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Farid Shafiyev said that Kazakhstan had always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, not only in words, but also in deeds.

“The visit to Shusha and the opening of the Kurmangazy Children’s Creativity Center built in the city of Fuzuli as part of the two-day visit, showcases the fraternal country’s open support for the restoration works carried out in the liberated lands.” 

Stressing the need for joint activities among intellectual circles, Farid Shafiyev said that the AIR Center is open to such initiatives.

Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Yerkin Tukumov characterized the meetings of the Expert Council as the logical continuation of the process started by the leaders of the two countries. According to him, think tanks should be prepared for the challenges emerging as a result of new regional and subregional realities. Y. Tukumov said that the issue related to youth policies must be high on the agenda. He emphasized the importance of increasing contact between the youth of the two countries.

He said that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan should play a key role in bringing closer the South Caucasus and the Central Asia regions.

Y. Tukumov also emphasized the need to continue exchange of ideas between intellectual circles and the importance of expert diplomacy.

Alim Bayel, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, said that the cooperation between the parties has intensified in all fields. A. Bayel also noted that the possibility of exporting electricity from Kazakhstan to Europe through Azerbaijan was on the table for discussions.

For his part, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Kazakhstan Rovshan Kazimov drew attention to the common values forming the basis for close cooperation between the two countries.

Then Aydos Sarim, the member of the Kazakh Parliament, Talgat Kaliyev, the Director of the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Studies, Ilgar Velizade, the head of South Caucasus Political Scientists Club, Timur Kozyrev, the chief expert of the International Turkic Academy, Roza Bayramova, the AIR Center expert, and Aidar Kurmashev, the head of the Asian Studies Department at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies delivered speeches.