Baku: The opening ceremony of the 1st Azerbaijan-UK Policy Dialogue took place at ADA University, organized by the Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD). This significant event, held on September 25, was devised in collaboration with the British-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce and bp, bringing together more than 50 distinguished experts. The participants included members of parliament, senior government officials, researchers from universities and think tanks, media specialists, and independent experts.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the two-day event will center on Azerbaijan-UK bilateral relations and strategic partnership amidst a changing global order. Key topics of discussion include regional security, cooperation, and foreign policy priorities in the South Caucasus, energy cooperation and economic diversification, and public diplomacy through education, science, and innovation. The dialogue aims to foster mutual understanding and practical cooperation on both regional and global challenges.
The opening ceremony featured speeches from prominent figures such as Dr. Fariz Ismailzade, Vice-Rector of ADA University and Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, Vice President for the Caspian Region of bp.
The first panel of the program addressed ‘Azerbaijan-United Kingdom Bilateral Relations and Strategic Partnership in a Changing Global Order’. Notable attendees included Lord Aamer Sarfraz, Members of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament, and David Duguid, Former MP of the UK Parliament, followed by Samad Seyidov and Sevinj Fataliyeva, Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During the first day, participants such as Sir Liam Fox, Chairman of the UK Abraham Accords Group, Prof. Emma Edhem, Alderman of The City of London Corporation, Rehman Chishti, Former MP of UK Parliament and Former Foreign Office Minister, and Dr. Matthew Offord, Former MP of UK Parliament, emphasized the importance of developing a strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom, strengthening bilateral relations, and exploring new cooperation opportunities.