Envoy-designate Abhay Kumar meets Azerbaijan FM, presents letter of credence
New Delhi/ Baku: India’s newly appointed Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, formally presented a copy of his Letter of Credence to Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku on Wednesday, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations.
“Met Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov of Azerbaijan today. Presented a copy of my Letter of Credence. Had useful discussions,” Ambassador Abhay Kumar wrote on X.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Bayramov received Kumar and congratulated him on his new assignment, wishing him success in his diplomatic mission.
The meeting, also highlighted in a tweet by the MFA of Azerbaijan, focused on the current state of relations between the two countries and prospects for future cooperation.
Both sides underlined the importance of institutionalised political consultations between their foreign ministries, noting that such mechanisms would help address differences and expand collaboration.
They expressed satisfaction with the existing direct air connectivity and growing cooperation in tourism and education.
Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. The Azerbaijani side emphasised the role of India’s ONGC Videsh Limited, which holds stakes in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) oil fields and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, as a key dimension of bilateral economic ties.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional security. Concerns were raised over tensions in the Middle East, while Ambassador Kumar conveyed India’s gratitude for Azerbaijan’s assistance in evacuating Indian nationals from Iran during recent crises.
Ambassador Kumar thanked the Azerbaijani government for the warm reception and stressed his commitment to expanding India–Azerbaijan relations across all sectors.
“I look forward to contributing to the strengthening of our partnership in every sphere,” he said.
The meeting underscored the historical foundations of India-Azerbaijan ties and reaffirmed mutual interest in enhancing cooperation in trade, energy, education, and people-to-people exchanges.