(Phnom Penh): Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elnur Mammadov concluded a three-day official visit to Cambodia from 19 to 22 July 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The visit aimed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, particularly tourism.
Speaking to the Cambodian press before his departure on Tuesday night (July 22), Mammadov praised Cambodia as “a very friendly and supportive friend,” emphasizing that Cambodia has always backed initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan.
During his visit, Mammadov presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency. He expressed confidence that the MoU would significantly boost tourist exchanges between the two nations. He stressed the importance of raising public awareness to help citizens of both countries learn more about each other and to drive tourism promotion through joint initiative.
Several pending agreements are also under discussion, including a visa waiver for ordinary passport holders, direct flights, sister-city partnerships, a bilateral investment treaty, and a deal to avoid double taxation.
For humanitarian cooperation and demining efforts, the Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister called on Cambodia for support in humanitarian and demining efforts, noting that Azerbaijan remains heavily contaminated by landmines, with only 13 percent of affected land cleared so far. He highlighted the importance of sharing expertise, resources, and equipment, as well as exchanging best practices to accelerate demining operations.
On the occasion, Mammadov also reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to cooperating with Cambodia in education, agriculture, energy, and digital literacy. Azerbaijan currently offers 100 scholarships annually to students from various countries, including Cambodia, on a competitive basis. On the digital front, Azerbaijan is keen to share its expertise and develop training programs to strengthen Cambodia’s digital workforce.
During the visit, Mammadov delivered a letter from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev inviting Prime Minister Hun Manet to attend the upcoming the World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan in 2026.
The visit is seen as a significant milestone in deepening the long-standing friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Azerbaijan and Cambodia, with both countries looking forward to advancing joint initiatives in the coming years.
=FRESH NEWS
