On September 16, Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held an expanded meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, in Shusha.

Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said:

Dear Mr. President, my dear brother,

Welcome to Azerbaijan, welcome to Karabakh. I am confident that your visit will give new impetus to the brotherly and friendly relations between our countries. We meet frequently, both in Azerbaijan and in the United Arab Emirates. You visited Azerbaijan twice last year, and earlier this year I paid a visit to your country.

Your visit today carries special significance, as you are in Karabakh – the lands liberated from occupation. This makes me, and indeed the entire Azerbaijani people, happy.

Our relations are built on a solid foundation of brotherhood and friendship. The numerous documents signed today will raise our cooperation to a new level. Each of them is important, but I would especially highlight the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which elevates our political ties to the highest level.

Our political relations are developing very successfully. We stand side by side in international organizations and always support each other. We are also very pleased with the recent mutual investments. Cooperation in the oil and gas sector continues to expand, while agreements in the transport sector signed today hold great promise.

We are particularly grateful to your country and your companies for their strong support in developing renewable energy in Azerbaijan. Emirati companies are our strategic partners and the main investors in this field. The first solar power plant commissioned in Azerbaijan became a reality thanks to your country’s support. And you know that our plans go further: in the near future, Azerbaijan will produce several gigawatts of renewable energy, made possible by your personal instructions and the active role of your country’s companies.

We are also working on other major investment projects. The composition of our delegations today speaks for itself – it demonstrates how multifaceted, sincere, and productive our cooperation has become.

My dear brother, once again I warmly thank you for your visit to Karabakh. Welcome to Azerbaijan, welcome to Karabakh!

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President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said:

My dear brother, Mr. President,

I am truly delighted to visit your friendly country and to meet with you. I extend my deep gratitude for your kind hospitality. Today marks our third meeting this year. Indeed, our July meeting in Abu Dhabi was very fruitful and laid the foundation for a new stage in our bilateral cooperation. Inshallah, our partnership – rooted in friendship – will continue to grow and further enhance the well-being of our peoples.

Over the past decades, relations between the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan have developed consistently. Our trade turnover, particularly in the non-oil sector, reached $2.24 billion in 2024.

In July, our countries signed an Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation. This document has given fresh momentum to our economic ties and, Inshallah, will play an important role in achieving our common goals. We in the UAE are eager to further expand this cooperation, especially in development, economy, renewable energy, food security, culture, and other key sectors, as these areas hold great promise for the future.

Mr. President, we have a special interest in deepening and strengthening relations with your friendly country, raising them to even greater heights. We are constantly looking for new opportunities to work together in ways that will benefit both nations and contribute to sustainable development.

As you rightly noted, our cooperation in the energy sector has been very reassuring. The Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed today reflects the will of both sides to develop and elevate our relations even further.

Equally important is cultural cooperation between our countries. Both Azerbaijan and the UAE believe that cultural exchange builds bridges between peoples and fosters deeper understanding. We are keen to preserve and promote our rich cultural heritage as part of this cooperation.

My dear brother, the United Arab Emirates attaches great importance to establishing peace and security in the Caucasus region. We are interested in developing relations with all countries of the region, including Azerbaijan, for the benefit of all peoples. In this regard, we hope to see further progress towards the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. On this occasion, I reaffirm the UAE’s readiness to provide all possible support for peace and security in the region, so that the peoples here may live in stability and prosperity.

In conclusion, my dear brother, I once again thank you for your warm hospitality. I wish continued peace and prosperity to your country and people. Thank you very much.

https://president.az/en/articles/view/70106