On April 10, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani President reported.

On the same day, Ilham Aliyev met with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a limited and extended format in Astana. 

Signed documents

Following the expanded meeting, a ceremony for signing Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan documents was held.

• Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a "Protocol on the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan" and a joint statement of the heads of state.
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• Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) Vugar Aliyev and General Director of the Non-profit Joint-Stock Company "Teleradiocomplex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan" Raushan Kazhibayeva signed a "Memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation between the Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) and Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company "Teleradiocomplex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
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• Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Kazakhstan Aghalar Atamoghlanov and Director of the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Research of Kazakhstan Talgat Kaliyev signed a "Memorandum on scientific and cultural cooperation between the Baku International Multiculturalism Center and the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Studies of Kazakhstan."
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• Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov and Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan Ayan Yerenov signed a "Memorandum of Understanding between the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan."
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• President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Isa Habibbayli and President of the "National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan" Republican Private Association Murat Zhurinov signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of science between the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
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• Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan Aghalar Atamoghlanov and President of "The Otandastar Foundation" of Kazakhstan Abzal Saparbekuly signed a "Memorandum of Understanding between the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and "Otandastar Foundation " of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
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• Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Farid Gayibov and Minister of Information and Social Development of Kazakhstan Darkhan Kydyrali signed a "Memorandum of understanding and cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan."

Press statements

After signing the documents, Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made press statements.

Regarding the Middle Corridor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated: "The full deployment of the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the so-called Middle Corridor, is particularly important. We are talking about the improvement of logistical services, the creation of unified transport operators, the modernization of technical and tariff conditions, the elimination of administrative barriers, and the emergence of a closed logistical cycle. The effective implementation of the roadmap for developing the Middle Corridor for 2022-2027 is also very important. We have agreed that it is important to take full advantage of the growing interest in this route and involve third countries in its infrastructure development. All these measures, as well as close cooperation with our international partners, will ensure the stability and efficiency of cargo delivery in the East-West direction."

He added about energy cooperation: "We have also paid special attention to building cooperation in the energy sector. Today, our priority is to diversify energy supplies to world markets further. As you know, thanks to our agreements, the first batch of Kazakh oil was shipped through Azerbaijan this year. The next step is to increase the volume of deliveries and make them sustainable in the long term."

On interaction in the media sphere, Tokayev emphasized: "A significant contribution to the further proximity between our fraternal peoples can be made by interaction in the sphere of the media and exchange of content. A corresponding agreement was signed today. Therefore, we have underlined the importance of implementing agreements on broadcasting Kazakh TV channels in the networks of Azerbaijani cable operators, as well as the distribution of animated films."

Ilham Aliyev said, "I would also like to express my gratitude for the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan to establish a Children's Creative Center named after Kurmangazy, the prominent son of the Kazakh people, in the liberated city of Fuzuli. The construction of this center has already started. This is Kazakhstan's gift to Azerbaijan, and the people of Azerbaijan will never forget it, especially now when we have to restore more than 10,000 square kilometers of territory practically from scratch after 30 years of occupation."

Regarding recent developments along the Caspian basin, Aliyev stated: "Brotherly relations with Kazakhstan are both an instruction from our ancestors and a vital necessity. Because the processes taking place in the Caspian region, Central Asia, and South Caucasus require us to strengthen cooperation in all directions, starting with issues related to regional security to those related to transport, logistics, energy, humanitarian cooperation, and ecology. Unfortunately, we are observing a rapid shallowing of the Caspian Sea on its shores, which belong to both you and us."

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