On September 30, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Bulgaria for an official visit, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani President reported. President Ilham Aliyev was met by high-ranking state and government officials of Bulgaria.

On the same day, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev held a tet-a-tet meeting in Sofia. After that, the presidents held an expanded meeting in Sofia. 

Welcoming Aliyev, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev said: "We have friendly relations of mutual respect with Azerbaijan. Our political dialogue at the highest level has been very active during the year, and our relations have already reached the level of strategic partnership. For us, Azerbaijan is a reliable and time-tested partner. I am sure we have a mutual interest in developing pragmatic and effective relations in all areas." Aliyev said: "We will inaugurate the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector. This is a project of strategic importance for us and the European continent. Because by doing this, we are redrawing the energy map of Europe. We will buy natural gas from Azerbaijan. This, of course, will diversify our supply."

Ilham Aliyev said: "The Declaration on strategic partnership was signed seven years ago, and over these years, this strategic partnership has manifested itself in several areas. I remember your official visit to Azerbaijan. The discussions and decisions we made during the visit are being implemented. As you have just mentioned, a significant event is taking place in Bulgaria tomorrow – we will celebrate the launch of the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector project. I congratulate you from the very beginning on this occasion." He added: "I should specifically emphasize the humanitarian field. Implementing the Middle Corridor project and the East-West transport corridor activity will bring us closer. I am sure we will have many contacts in the future, and new issues will be included in the already extensive agenda."

Following the expanded meeting, the presidents made press statements.

"This official visit of Mr. Aliyev is doubly symbolic. First, this year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Secondly, within the framework of this visit, tomorrow, 1 October, we will officially celebrate the opening of the Greece-Bulgaria Gas Interconnector. This interconnector, this strategic project, is a significant project for our country and Eastern Europe. This interconnector will allow us the opportunity to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan for the first time. This, of course, will redraw the energy map of Europe. This is such an infrastructure project that we will be able to develop economic cooperation between our countries and the entire region. Through this project, we are reaffirming our strategic partnership. I want to thank Mr. Aliyev for the fact that we are developing our relations based on the Declaration on Strategic Partnership that we signed at the time, and thanks to our commitment and determination," Radev stated. The President of the Republic of Bulgaria said: "I would like to bring to your attention one more important issue: I shared with Mr. Aliyev an offer I received yesterday. In addition to Bulgaria, three other European countries – Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia – have applied to us to buy and transport additional gas volumes. 

“In July, Mr. Aliyev and Mrs. von der Leyden signed a document. According to that document, a new approach should be applied. Thanks to this, instead of waiting for years – you probably know that large investments are needed to expand the existing infrastructure here – we can immediately send Azerbaijani gas to other countries through the infrastructure of these four countries. Thus, gas can be delivered to Central, Western, and Southern Europe more quickly and reliably… Currently, we are looking for new opportunities in the conditions of high gas demand and crisis. President Aliyev and I discussed various issues and a wide range of opinions because we need gas in cement production, glass production, and other production areas… We have also discussed the issue of opening a representative office of SOCAR in Bulgaria. I believe that this can be a sign of our fruitful cooperation," Radev added.

Ilham Aliyev underlined: "I am sure that as strategic partners, we will take further steps in the field of energy security, which is the main issue discussed today. During the conversation with the President today, we also discussed the ways of increasing the volume of Azerbaijani gas exported to Bulgaria. Relevant instructions have been given. Energy security issues have always been important, but in today's circumstances, this importance has increased even more. As President Radev noted, a Memorandum on strategic partnership in the field of energy was recently signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan. According to this Memorandum, in the next few years, we will increase our gas exports to Europe at least twice, and there are opportunities to do that. Azerbaijan's confirmed gas reserves are at 2.6 trillion cubic meters. New and diversified gas transportation infrastructure allows us the opportunity to supply natural gas to many countries. 

“At the same time, as already mentioned by the President Radev, the issue of opening SOCAR's office in Bulgaria has also been discussed. We should not limit our energy agenda to the exports of natural gas. We have also discussed other issues related to energy. Export of electricity and mutually beneficial cooperation in this field, the transportation of crude oil to Bulgaria, possible participation of SOCAR in the renewal of energy infrastructure in Bulgaria, and other issues have also been discussed. In short, the time has come to open SOCAR's office in Bulgaria, and I am sure we will do that soon." Azerbaijan has created a very modern transport infrastructure in its territory – railways, highways, and a new International Trade Sea Port – all these infrastructure facilities aim to increase the volume of transit cargo through Azerbaijan. T In the future, this number will be even more significant. Therefore, Bulgarian and Azerbaijani transport workers will come together and exchange ideas about long-term and future large-scale cooperation,” Aliyev emphasized.