Andrej Babiš invited Ilham Aliyev to visit the Czech Republic

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš invited President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on an official visit to the Czech Republic.

Babiš wrote about this on Facebook.

"I intend to continue developing relations between our countries and was pleased to invite President Ilham Aliyev and his wife to visit the Czech Republic," he wrote.

Babiš noted that in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he promised President Ilham Aliyev that his first trip outside the European Union would be to Azerbaijan, and expressed satisfaction that he was able to fulfill his promise.

"I am grateful for the friendly and, most importantly, very concrete negotiations. There are strong ties and enormous potential for trade cooperation between our countries. Last year, mutual trade turnover amounted to $42 billion, with the main share consisting of Azerbaijani oil supplies to the Czech Republic," he emphasized.

According to the Prime Minister, the sides expressed readiness to expand cooperation in other areas as well, emphasizing interest in concluding a long-term gas supply contract. He noted that representatives of the company ČEZ are participating in the negotiations, expressing confidence in the successful completion of this process.

He also reported that President Ilham Aliyev initiated the creation of an intergovernmental economic commission that will focus on the development of energy and industrial cooperation. From the Czech side, it will be headed by the Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, and from the Azerbaijani side – by the Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov.

In addition, the sides discussed a number of specific projects, including the development of the Karlovy Vary airport, as well as cooperation with Czech companies. Babiš added that Czech defense enterprises are already significant suppliers to Azerbaijan.