Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Meg O'Neill, Chief Executive Officer of bp, in a meeting highlighting the enduring partnership between Azerbaijan and the multinational oil and gas company.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev congratulated O'Neill on her appointment as CEO, expressing optimism that the collaboration between SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state oil company, and bp would continue to thrive under her leadership. He acknowledged the 30-year history of successful partnerships and noted that the revenue from projects has been vital for Azerbaijan's socio-economic progress.

The President emphasized the expanding number of joint projects, illustrating the mutually advantageous nature of this cooperation and its strategic importance. O'Neill expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and praised Azerbaijan's leadership for their foresight in utilizing oil and gas revenues to develop national infrastructure.

President Aliyev remarked on the unique way Azerbaijan has leveraged its oil and gas wealth to foster national development, contrasting it with other countries where such revenues have led to inequality. He recalled the challenging post-independence period following the First Garabagh War, highlighting the critical role of international investment, notably from bp, in overcoming those difficulties.

The discussion also covered bp's ongoing energy projects in Azerbaijan, including initiatives in renewable energy and efforts in the liberated territories. Both parties reaffirmed Azerbaijan's critical contribution to European energy security and explored future collaboration prospects between SOCAR and bp.