By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The year 2024 marks the next successful chapter in the history of the friendly and cooperative relationship between Azerbaijan and Korea. Our countries, which maintain full-fledged and multidimensional cooperation, eagerly continued also throughout this year their high-level political dialogue and work for strengthening their economic, humanitarian and cultural bonds as well as implemented a number of meaningful projects.  

2024 has been also promising year for diversifying our bilateral collaboration by expanding exchanges and engagement in the future-oriented areas such as green growth or green energy. In this year, which was declared by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, as a Year of Solidarity for a Green World, Azerbaijan successfully hosted the COP29 event with attendance by 80 heads of state and government. The very developments have created momentum for Azerbaijan and Korea to combine their willing and strengths towards a close cooperation in the said fields both in bilateral format and within multilateral institutions.  

Azerbaijan has been firmly continuing to advance its regional agenda aimed at facilitating sustainable peace and regional cooperation in the South Caucasus since the long-lasted conflict with Armenia was resolved as well as rebuilding its Garabagh and East Zangezur regions liberated from 30 years illegal occupation in conformity with the international law. Since this year, Korea has been operating as non-permanent member of UN Security Council. That the both countries eagerly advocate for strengthening the international law grants big scope for an active cooperation and coordination of their future endeavors in terms of regional and global affairs in years ahead. Amid the ongoing geopolitical challenges and conflicts in the modern world, enhancing dialogue and cooperation between friendly countries is needed more than ever.

Advancing the friendship and partnership bonds between the two nations requires active support by civil society and media for this process on the both sides. It is gratifying that mutual interest in Azerbaijan and Korea for each other’s culture, language, history, life style, economy and politics is high. Diplomacy Journal, which made significant contributions to raising the Korean public awareness about Azerbaijan through its continuous coverage of our Embassy’s activities and other important topics related to Azerbaijan throughout 2024 and before, has its significant part in that this satisfying situation is ruling today. I would like to express my great appreciation to Diplomacy Journal for this valuable work.  

I wish your Journal and its esteemed readers a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!