On May 20, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Sohail Mahmud, the Secretary General of the Developing-8 (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan. The meeting focused on the current cooperation agenda and the prospects for deepening relations between Azerbaijan and the organization across various strategic sectors.
According to the MFA's report to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Secretary General Mahmud expressed gratitude for the high-level organization of the World Urban Forum (WUF-13) in Baku and the productive discussions held within its framework. The parties reviewed opportunities for further development in political, economic, energy, transport, and logistics sectors. They highlighted Azerbaijan's active role since joining the organization, specifically noting the upcoming "D-8 Week" to be held in Azerbaijan for the first time in October 2025. This event will involve the establishment of the D-8 Energy and Climate Center, the D-8 Media Excellence Center, and the D-8 Transport Excellence Center within the country.
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, which brings together major developing economies with a combined population of nearly 1.3 billion and a total GDP of approximately $5 trillion, remains a key platform for fostering South-South cooperation. During the meeting, the officials also addressed regional and international security issues, emphasizing the importance of de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, strengthening ceasefires, and ensuring long-term stability. Azerbaijan's growing influence within the D-8 underscores its strategic commitment to multilateral diplomacy and regional connectivity.
