The event was graced by distinguished guests, including dignitaries from the government and parliament of Egypt, alongside members of the diplomatic corps.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat also attended as Egypt's official representative.
On this occasion, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Egypt Elkhan Polukhov emphasized the significance of this celebration and the enduring ties that bind Azerbaijan and Egypt.
Polukhov highlighted the importance of the long-standing relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt, noting that recent years have intensified communication between the two nations.
He recalled his honour of accompanying Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on a historic visit to Azerbaijan in January 2023, followed by the official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Egypt in June 2024.
The ambassador also highlighted the ongoing reception of an official delegation from the Egyptian Senate in Baku, headed by Speaker Counsellor Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razek, who has already met with President Aliyev, Speaker of Parliament Sahiba Qafarova, and Prime Minister Ali Asadov.
This year, Cairo will also host vital political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the 6th Session of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Technical, and Scientific Cooperation.
Moreover, Ambassador Polukhov stressed both countries' significant regional and global roles, showcasing their cooperative spirit on various international issues.
He also highlighted Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 and Egypt's hosting of the World Urban Forum (WUF-12), with Baku set to welcome WUF-13 in 2026, to demonstrate their partnership level.
“During our history both countries went through different territorial and political challenges but thanks to the wise policy of our political leaders we succeeded on building strong and prosperous countries where we are living now,” Ambassador Polukhov said.
(L-r) Minister of Communication and Information Technology Amr Talaat with the Azerbaijan Ambassador to Egypt Elkhan Polukhov.
In his speech, Minister Talaat, on behalf of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, affirmed the deep-rooted bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also praised the enhanced cooperation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence and Baku's hosting of the COP29 climate conference.
“Today, we not only celebrate the sovereignty and independence of Azerbaijan, but we also honour the spirit of a resilient nation, whose flame of freedom has been ignited throughout history, from the historic declaration of independence in 1918 to the pivotal liberation in 1991. Until today, we celebrate with a modern, vibrant state looking towards the future,” Talaat said.
Furthermore, he described the relationship between Egypt and Azerbaijan as a strong one, characterized by friendship and partnership that unites the two countries. Both are rooted in a rich heritage and fueled by an unquenchable passion to build a bright future.
“Our two countries, despite their geographic distance, are linked by shared values and a steadfast commitment to harmonizing the heritage of the past with the promise of the future," he added.
"This commitment was manifested last year through the historic visit of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Azerbaijan, the first of its kind for an Egyptian president, laying the groundwork for enhancing cooperation in fields such as the digital economy, smart infrastructure, and innovation,” Talaat continued.
Azerbaijan Ambassador to Egypt Elkhan Polukhov, his wife and their guests.
He said the recent memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Azerbaijani Ministry of Digital Development and Transport embodies a shared vision to build robust digital systems, exchange expertise, enhance youth entrepreneurship, and adopt emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain.
Additionally, Talaat stressed that this partnership is not merely technical; it is a shared commitment to harnessing the power of transformative technology to serve our peoples by promoting inclusivity, building resilient economies, and preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“On the international stage, our two countries share a profound commitment to sustainable development and climate action. Following Egypt's hosting of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, we congratulate Azerbaijan on the remarkable success in hosting COP29 in Baku, an event that showcased your leadership and enhanced our alignment in shaping a sustainable future,” he stated.
“May the bonds of brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Egypt continue to grow and flourish as we build together a sustainable and digitally empowered future for our peoples,” Talaat concluded.
Short link: