Azerbaijan seeks to boost trade, investment, tourism ties with Malaysia

Tourism Malaysia Published 1 year ago on 30 May 2022 | Author TIN Media
MALAYSIA:

Azerbaijan is seeking to boost trade, investment and tourism links with Malaysia as both countries celebrate close to three decades of diplomatic ties this year.

Azerbaijan's ambassador to Malaysia, Irfan Davudov, said both Malaysia and Azerbaijan have huge, untapped potential in trade and other areas such as education, scientific research, culture, art and tourism.

"Since the first days of our independence, Malaysia has been among our closest friends and reliable partners in the international arena. Malaysia was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Azerbaijan.

"One can cite the relations of two countries as an example of interstate relations within the framework of international organisations.

"We are successfully cooperating within the framework of the United Nations, its subsidiaries and specialised organisations, within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement."We are grateful to Malaysia, the Malaysian people for such support, for their friendship and brotherhood," he said, during the republic's 104th National Day reception at JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Founded on May 28, 1918, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan became the first secular and parliamentary democracy in the Islamic and Turkic world.

Azerbaijan was also the first Muslim-majority country that granted women the right to vote.

The country was invaded by the then Soviet Union in April 1920 and became the Republic of Azerbaijan after it regained independence in 1991.

The young state, however, is embroiled in a war with neighbouring Armenia, which occupies 20 per cent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognised territories.