Georgian PM, Azerbaijani President review strategic partnership, prospects for further deepening cooperation

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss the strategic partnership between the two nations and prospects for further deepening cooperation across various sectors.

The parties highlighted the positive dynamics in trade and emphasised the role of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in this process.

The Georgian side reaffirmed its readiness to host the next session of the commission in the near future.

The two leaders further discussed global and regional geopolitical challenges and once again underlined the importance of peace for the sustainable and stable development of the region.

The discussion also covered jointly implemented regional projects and their role in strengthening connectivity.

Following the meeting, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a package of agreements in the energy and transport sectors, including a 20-year intergovernmental agreement on the main conditions for electricity supply and transit transmission between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The parties also agreed to extend by 20 years the 2003 agreement on the purchase and sale of Azerbaijani gas, aimed at ensuring guarantees for secure social gas supply.

A protocol of the bilateral coordination council was also signed, according to which the new section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will become fully operational.

Under the agreement reached between the parties, daily passenger railway service between Tbilisi and Baku will resume on May 26 after a six-year suspension.