Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, on May 4. President Aliyev welcomed the Italian delegation and emphasized the significance of Meloni's visit, especially given her busy schedule and her recent visit to Armenia. He highlighted the symbolic nature of her visit to Azerbaijan, underscoring the friendly relations between the two nations. Aliyev expressed confidence that the visit would further enhance the strategic ties between Azerbaijan and Italy.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Giorgia Meloni expressed her honor and satisfaction in visiting Azerbaijan, noting the importance of the partnership between the two countries. She remarked on the surprising fact that no Italian Prime Minister had visited Azerbaijan since 2013, highlighting the extensive cooperation between the two nations in strategic areas such as energy, infrastructure, connectivity, and culture. Meloni acknowledged the significance of cultural ties and educational work, emphasizing the potential for further collaboration.

Meloni also underscored Azerbaijan's role as a strategic partner and a bridge, despite the challenging international situation. She stressed the importance of Azerbaijan's bridging role, envisioning a long connection extending from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean region. The meeting between the leaders reflects a mutual commitment to strengthening and expanding the bilateral relationship.