Azerbaijan, Netherlands explore roadmap for 2026–2028
Baku, October 26, AZERTAC
On October 26, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Tom Berendsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The meeting focused on the current state and prospects of Azerbaijan-Netherlands relations, strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and investment ties, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in energy, transport, agriculture, water management, innovation, shipbuilding, and humanitarian affairs.
Highlighting that 2027 will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands, Jeyhun Bayramov underscored the two countries’ mutual interest in strengthening existing bilateral ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
The meeting also stressed the importance of further developing interparliamentary cooperation and improving the bilateral legal framework.
The ministers welcomed the adoption of the 2026–2028 Roadmap for the Development of Azerbaijan-Netherlands Relations, which aims to advance political dialogue and practical cooperation across various fields.
The meeting also addressed ways to promote mutual investment, make effective use of the newly established Azerbaijan-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, strengthen ties between business communities, and implement joint projects.
The Dutch foreign minister was briefed on Azerbaijan’s growing role in the Middle Corridor, as well as the opportunities offered by the Baku International Sea Trade Port and the Alat Free Economic Zone.
The foreign ministers emphasized the importance of expanding educational, academic and scientific cooperation, fostering ties between higher education institutions, organizing training programmes, and implementing joint cultural and humanitarian initiatives.
The meeting also addressed bilateral cooperation within international organizations, as well as other issues on the regional and global agendas.
On regional developments, Jeyhun Bayramov briefed his Dutch counterpart on the current situation in the South Caucasus, efforts to advance the normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, and the peace process.
Minister Bayramov emphasized the need to remove from the Armenian Constitution provisions containing territorial claims against Azerbaijan as a prerequisite for signing the initialed peace agreement.
He also briefed the Dutch foreign minister on Azerbaijan’s ongoing large-scale restoration and reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories, as well as measures to ensure the safe and dignified return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands.
The ministers also discussed the humanitarian challenges posed by landmines, highlighting the importance of eliminating the ongoing threat they pose to human life and the obstacles they create for reconstruction efforts and the return of former internally displaced persons.
The meeting also covered other bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern.
The ministers then made press statements on the outcomes of the meeting.