On October 19, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Katsuya Watanabe, Japan’s outgoing ambassador to Azerbaijan.
The meeting focused on the current state and prospects of Azerbaijan–Japan relations. The sides commended Ambassador Watanabe’s contribution to strengthening bilateral ties during his diplomatic mission.
Minister Bayramov fondly recalled the discussions held during his visit to Japan earlier this year. The officials stressed the importance of maintaining political dialogue and fostering economic, trade, and energy cooperation.
They noted that Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), and the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) demonstrated the country’s contribution to advancing international cooperation, promoting sustainable development, and addressing global challenges.
The officials also reviewed cooperation within international organizations, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and continued dialogue on multilateral platforms.
They underscored the significance of expanding people-to-people contacts and strengthening cooperation in education, culture, and sports. In this regard, they noted that Azerbaijan’s unilateral introduction of a visa-free regime for Japanese nationals helps promote bilateral relations and tourism exchanges.
The meeting also addressed opportunities to strengthen mutual understanding and cultural ties between the two peoples through sports, including judo and sumo. The sides also emphasized the importance of hosting major events in Azerbaijan related to these disciplines.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister thanked the Japanese ambassador for his efforts and wished him success in his future endeavors.
The meeting also covered other matters of mutual interest.