Baku: On November 22, a Malaysian delegation led by Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), visited the Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) during their stay in Baku for the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Media Forum. The forum was conducted under the theme ‘Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion.’

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the delegation had the opportunity to tour AZERTAC’s photo archive, which included images capturing significant moments of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, President Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva at various events. They also explored a museum exhibition that showcased the technical equipment used by AZERTAC over the years, providing insight into the agency’s historical operations.

The delegates were introduced to the bas-relief dedicated to AZERTAC’s martyred journalist Maharram Ibrahimov, where they were briefed about his life and contributions. Vugar Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of AZERTAC, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two agencies since 2014, which includes the exchange of daily news. He also mentioned their successful cooperation within the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA).

Aliyev emphasized the importance of the newly announced D-8 Media Excellence Center, which is expected to bolster cross-border content collaboration and improve media literacy skills. Bernama CEO Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin expressed appreciation for the cooperation with AZERTAC and highlighted the necessity for enhanced digital information exchange in the contemporary era.

Both parties agreed to extend the Memorandum on Cooperation, reinforcing their commitment to future collaborations. Additionally, Vugar Aliyev extended an invitation to Bernama officials to participate in the Shusha Global Media Forum scheduled for the upcoming year.