Azerbaijani, Italian presidents highlight energy, education partnership during Baku talks
Oct 01, 2025
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday praised the steady development of bilateral ties, describing them as a comprehensive strategic partnership.
During a joint press appearance in Baku, Aliyev said Mattarella’s second official visit to Azerbaijan demonstrated the strength of the relationship, recalling that the first visit took place seven years ago.
“Today’s visit shows that Italian-Azerbaijani relations are developing very successfully and that we are truly strategic partners,” he said.
He noted that the two countries had signed two major strategic partnership agreements since 2015 and that cooperation had rapidly expanded into multiple areas.
The Azerbaijani leader highlighted Italy’s role in facilitating the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which began exporting Azerbaijani gas to Italy in 2020.
He said Italy remains Azerbaijan’s top trading partner, with oil and gas exports playing a central role.
“Azerbaijani oil ranks first in Italy’s oil balance, and Azerbaijani gas ranks second,” he said, adding that trust and mutual understanding had allowed the success of such projects.
Aliyev also pointed to new initiatives, including electricity exports to Europe through future infrastructure projects that could also connect Central Asia.
Italy-Azerbaijan University
Mattarella, on his part, thanked Aliyev for the invitation and warm hospitality, emphasizing the importance of the partnership that he said was “fully formed and developing.”
Recalling his previous visit in 2017, he noted that the opening of an industrial facility back then had symbolized the start of deeper economic cooperation, while today’s agenda reflected an expansion into culture and education.
“Tomorrow we will inaugurate the student campus of the Italy-Azerbaijan University. This means that Italian universities and Azerbaijani universities will cooperate closely,” he said.
The Italian president described Azerbaijan as a “very influential partner” for Europe and said Italy would continue to advocate for stronger EU-Azerbaijan ties.
“We will do our best to ensure that these relations grow, develop, and always cover more and more new areas, serving the well-being of our countries and peoples,” he said.
Both leaders framed the visit as a milestone in the partnership, with Aliyev calling the cooperation a model for countries “located far from each other,” and Mattarella expressing Italy’s determination to raise the friendship to “the highest level.”
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