October 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and Azerbaijan have expressed interest in broadening their economic and diplomatic ties, with discussions in Baku focusing on potential cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and energy.
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to the Azerbaijani capital, where the two sides discussed avenues for strengthening relations, including opportunities linked to oil and natural gas supplies.
The meeting took place as Minister Herath led Sri Lanka’s delegation to the seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Baku on 14 and 15 October.
Sri Lanka is also using the summit as an opportunity to present its views on regional cooperation. Herath is scheduled to deliver the country’s statement under the theme ‘Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalisation and Sustainable Growth in Asia’, highlighting issues central to Asia’s economic development and regional engagement.
His programme includes further meetings with representatives from CICA member states, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Discussions are also planned with Azerbaijani officials and the organisation’s Secretary-General, offering opportunities to explore areas of mutual interest and strengthen diplomatic relationships.
For Sri Lanka, engagement with Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries could help widen access to emerging markets and create fresh opportunities for investment and commercial partnerships. Cooperation in the energy sector is another area of potential significance, alongside tourism and broader economic exchanges.
Established as a regional intergovernmental forum, CICA seeks to promote dialogue, cooperation and confidence-building among Asian countries, with the wider aim of supporting peace, security and stability across the continent.
Minister Herath’s participation in the summit forms part of Sri Lanka’s broader diplomatic engagement with Asian partners, as the country seeks to develop international relationships that can support economic growth and expand its regional presence.
