BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet that Southeast Asia is one of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy priorities. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of expanding political, economic, and humanitarian ties between the two countries, increasing trade, and promoting mutual investment, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.
He noted that President Ilham Aliyev’s statement draws attention to Azerbaijan’s strategy of expanding the scope of its international partnerships and securing new economic opportunities.
“The foreign policy pursued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev places great emphasis on developing ties with various regions, strengthening cooperation within international organizations, and diversifying economic partners. The development of political relations between Azerbaijan and Cambodia creates new opportunities for economic cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev noted that trade between the two countries remains at a low level for now, and expressed confidence that this area will see increased activity following the prime minister’s visit. During the meeting, an agreement was reached to establish a joint working group that will address practical issues of trade and investment cooperation. Industry, tourism, education, transportation, and digital transformation were also identified as promising areas for cooperation. This approach reflects President Ilham Aliyev’s commitment to underpinning political dialogue in foreign policy with concrete economic results. Expanding ties between the business communities of the two countries could open up opportunities to enter new markets, establish joint production ventures, and increase mutual investment,” Garayev said.
Azer Garayev noted that President Ilham Aliyev’s designation of
Southeast Asia as one of the priority areas of Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy demonstrates the country’s intention to develop
international ties across a broader geographic area.
“President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the active cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Cambodia within the framework of the United Nations,
the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Conference on Interaction and
Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. Azerbaijan’s attainment of
observer status in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, with
Cambodia’s support, is also of great importance for expanding these
ties. Azerbaijan’s geographical location between Europe and Asia
opens up additional opportunities for our country in the fields of
transportation and logistics. The special attention President Ilham
Aliyev paid to these areas in his speech reflects Azerbaijan’s
desire to strengthen its role in the development of international
transportation links and to build new economic partnerships,” a
political analyst emphasized.
According to the political scientist, the fact that Azerbaijan’s model for providing public services has attracted interest in Cambodia also deserves a positive assessment.
“President Ilham Aliyev stated that the ASAN Khidmet model can contribute to the development of bilateral relations. This demonstrates Azerbaijan’s intention not only to build economic ties but also to share its accumulated experience in the field of public administration with international partners. Recalling that during the Soviet period, hundreds of Cambodian students studied in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for mutual learning. Expanding cooperation in the fields of education and tourism can also help strengthen ties between the two nations,” Garayev noted.
Furthermore, Garayev noted that President Ilham Aliyev also
addressed the threat of landmines as one of the common challenges
faced by Azerbaijan and Cambodia.
“President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of exchanging
experience and knowledge in this area, as well as conducting joint
exercises. In addition, President Ilham Aliyev stated that peace
and security are the fundamental prerequisites for development, and
noted the importance of respecting international law, sovereignty,
and territorial integrity. The speech also highlighted the
reconstruction efforts underway in the territories of Azerbaijan
liberated from occupation, as well as the “Great Return” program.
These messages reflect the importance Azerbaijan attaches to the
principles of security, sovereignty, and international law in its
relations with international partners,” the analyst said.
The meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet underscores the importance of Azerbaijan’s efforts to expand ties with Southeast Asia.
“Complementing political dialogue with concrete initiatives in the areas of economic cooperation, investment, education, and transportation lays the foundation for the development of relations. This approach, outlined by President Ilham Aliyev, is important in terms of expanding Azerbaijan’s access to new markets, diversifying its international partnerships, and strengthening the country’s role in regional ties. The main goal is to transform existing political opportunities into sustainable economic cooperation and mutually beneficial projects,” the political analyst added.