Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan planning joint energy, logistics projects - Tokayev

ASTANA. March 11 (Interfax) -Astana and Baku are planning to implement a number of joint projects, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an interview with Azerbaijan's APA news agency ahead of his visit to Baku.

"There is a number of projects in our portfolio that are important both for our countries and for region in the general. These include expanding the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), laying a fiber-optic communication line and an energy cable on the Caspian seabed, exporting oil and uranium through Azerbaijan, and supplying wheat from Kazakhstan to the Azerbaijani market," Tokayev said.

Kazakh-Azerbaijani trade "has grown nearly fivefold, from $109 million to $529 million" since 2020, he said. "This is a remarkable growth, and we aim to further expand our trade," Tokayev said.

A number of joint initiatives are aimed at strengthening cultural ties and boosting tourism between the two countries, he said.

Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations are on the rise, he said, adding that the focus is on improving contacts in the political, trade, economic, transport, energy, agriculture, cultural, and humanitarian areas.

"Besides traditional interaction mechanisms, we have set up operational business and expert councils. In Baku, we will launch the Supreme Interstate Council and hold its inaugural session," he said.

Bilateral legal base has also been growing, with about 40 significant bilateral documents having been signed in the 18 months, he said.

"Another set of documents is being prepared for signing during the upcoming visit. This will naturally give another impetus to our interaction," he said.

"Our common goal is to build truly strong relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, from the strategic and allied perspective. I am confident that with our joint efforts, we will achieve this goal," Tokyev said.