On 8-9 March, President of Latvia Egils Levits will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, where he will meet with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and participate in the opening of the 10th Baku Global Forum.
Latvia has enjoyed good bilateral relations with Azerbaijan for almost 30 years. The visit, which is taking place at the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan and the organisers of the Baku Global Forum, will provide an opportunity to discuss the regional security challenges facing both countries, as well as opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector, given the common move towards renewable energy solutions.
Cooperation in international organisations and forums is important for both countries. Azerbaijan holds the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, which unites 120 countries and is an important group of countries in the United Nations. Latvia, for its part, from May to November this year will hold the presidency of the Council of Europe, which aims to strengthen European values in all 46 Member States, including Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's good cooperation with NATO in the "Partnership for Peace" programme should also be noted. The Latvian Embassy is also the NATO contact point in Azerbaijan.
The visit will also include a discussion at the ADA University, meetings with businessmen, exhibitions by artists I. Krūmiņa and R. Deghati and the unveiling of a memorial plaque to Jāzeps Mediņš.