A total of 14 agreements were
signed following the Kazakh-Azerbaijani Supreme Interstate Council. They cover
such areas as transport and logistics, trade and economy, telecommunications, energy
and culture, as well as increasing Kazakh oil exports by 50 percent. Thanks to
the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the transportation of Kazakh
oil reached 1.5 million tonnes. The countries have a potential to increase this
figure, according to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. As for the volume
of cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor, there is also growth by 65
percent. In 2022 this figure was 1.7 million tonnes, and in 2023, another
million tonnes of cargo were transported. The opening of Kazakhstan’s terminal
and the launch of the first container train following the direction of
China-Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan in February may breathe new life into the
Trans-Caspian route. It is noteworthy that the freight train departing from Xi’an
arrived in Absheron and was met by the Kazakh and Azerbaijani leaders via
teleconference. President Tokayev emphasized that a new transport and logistics
framework of Eurasia is being built, amid the current unstable global
situation.
“Today, we have discussed that
there is an intensifying global competition for access to transport and
logistics capabilities, in addition to the struggle for resources. Fortunately,
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are closely cooperating in this strategic sphere as
natural partners. I would like to highlight the great significance of today’s
ceremony, marking the opening of the railway route from the port of Xi’an
through the territory of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan. I am very happy that such an
important event took place during my state visit. We talked about joint efforts
in working on unique projects in the field of digitization, artificial
intelligence development and the construction of fiber-optic communication line
along the Caspian Sea bed,” said President Tokayev.
During a media briefing, the Head
of State emphasized the importance of his visit to Baku and referred to
Azerbaijan as Kazakhstan’s strategic partner.
“This state visit is extremely
important in terms of further developing the cooperation between our states. I
am accompanied by a very large delegation, indicating our meticulous
preparation for all aspects of this visit to fraternal Azerbaijan, which ended
with complete success. Today, we have witnessed the signing of the relevant
documents and agreements and, most importantly, agreed to direct the efforts of
the governments and other relevant agencies toward the full implementation of
all treaties reached during the high-level meeting,” noted the Head of State.
President Tokayev stated that
during the talks the parties emphasized the importance of strengthening
cooperation within multilateral structures. He particularly highlighted the
interaction between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in a number of important
international organizations, including the UN, OTS, OSCE, CICA, SPECA and CIS.
This international cooperation will further continue.
