Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has invited President Ilham Aliyev to pay an official visit to the Czech Republic to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Babis shared the announcement on his official Facebook page, expressing his intention to deepen ties. "I intend to continue developing the relations between our countries and have gladly invited President Ilham Aliyev, along with his spouse, to visit the Czech Republic," the Prime Minister stated.
Babis noted that during the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, he promised President Ilham Aliyev that his first visit outside the European Union would be to Azerbaijan, and expressed satisfaction that he was able to fulfill this commitment. "I am grateful for the friendly and, most importantly, very concrete negotiations. There is great potential for strong ties and trade cooperation between our countries. Last year, the mutual trade turnover amounted to $42 billion, the bulk of which consisted of the supply of Azerbaijani oil to the Czech Republic," he emphasized.
According to the Prime Minister, the parties expressed interest in concluding a long-term contract for gas supplies and indicated their readiness to expand cooperation in other sectors. He noted that representatives of CEZ, the largest Czech energy company, participated in the negotiations and expressed confidence in the successful conclusion of this process.
Furthermore, Babis highlighted that President Ilham Aliyev initiated the creation of an intergovernmental economic commission to focus on the development of energy and industrial interaction. The commission will be co-chaired by Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlicek and Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov. The parties also discussed specific projects, including the development of Karlovy Vary Airport and cooperation with Czech defense enterprises, which are already significant suppliers to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic maintain a strategic partnership, with energy security serving as a cornerstone of their economic relationship. As a key supplier of crude oil to the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan continues to play a vital role in diversifying Europe's energy resources. This diplomatic engagement underscores the growing importance of Baku as a strategic partner for EU member states in the South Caucasus region.
