On December 2, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received a delegation led by Carlos Pinto Pereira, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Communities of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

The delegation also included Viriato Cassamá, Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Environment.

President Aliyev fondly recalled his recent meeting with the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, noting it had been highly productive in identifying prospects for bilateral relations and areas of cooperation. Despite the short time since that meeting, he described the visit of a ministerial-level delegation from Guinea-Bissau to Azerbaijan as a positive step in strengthening bilateral ties. President Aliyev expressed hope that establishing cooperation in economic sectors, including trade and investment, would further bolster political relations.

Carlos Pinto Pereira thanked the Azerbaijani President for his kind words and emphasized that the delegation had come with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations, reflecting the commitment of the President of Guinea-Bissau to deepen ties with Azerbaijan.

Discussions also touched on cooperation in education, particularly Azerbaijan’s provision of scholarships to students from Guinea-Bissau in fields such as engineering and petroleum engineering. It was noted with satisfaction that many students from Guinea-Bissau had studied in Azerbaijan during the Soviet era and now hold key positions in the government of Guinea-Bissau. Several members of the current delegation, including ministers and senior officials, were also among those who had studied in Azerbaijan.

The meeting further explored cooperation in the oil and mining sectors, with discussions on Azerbaijan sharing its expertise and exchanging views on geological exploration activities.

Both sides emphasized the importance of establishing a diplomatic consultation mechanism between their countries, enhancing collaboration within international organizations, and increasing reciprocal visits.

Guinea-Bissau also expressed interest in Azerbaijan’s “ASAN Xidmet” model, which provides integrated government and private sector services to citizens in a single space. President Aliyev highlighted the international recognition of “ASAN Xidmet,” including high praise from the United Nations, and expressed Azerbaijan’s readiness to share this experience with Guinea-Bissau.