Azerbaijani, Georgian presidents discuss strategic partnership, cooperation across sectors

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on Monday held a one-on-one meeting with Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev at the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi.

The two discussed the high level of strategic partnership between the countries and successful cooperation across various sectors, Kavelashvili said.

“I emphasized that maintaining the existing strong strategic partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan at a high standard, as well as fostering its multifaceted development, remains a priority for Georgia,” he wrote on the US social media platform X.

Kavelashvili and Aliyev also underlined the increasing importance of regional peace and stability amid “ongoing geopolitical developments.”

Separately, Azerbaijan’s presidential press service said Aliyev and Kavelashvili emphasized the “significance” of joint transport and energy projects implemented by Azerbaijan and Georgia, noting their strategic and economic importance.

During the meeting, the role of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia in ensuring stability and security in the South Caucasus was also highlighted, the statement said.

Following talks with Kavelashvili, Aliyev held an expanded meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Georgia and Azerbaijan exceeded $800 million in trade last year, Aliyev said during a joint press conference with Kobakhidze.

“If this trend continues, we may reach the one-billion-dollar mark by the end of the year. As I mentioned, the highly favorable investment climate in Georgia also encourages Azerbaijani investors,” he said, adding that Azerbaijan has invested $3.7 billion in the Georgian economy.