VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Indonesia have been developing quickly and dynamically since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

“Our high-level political relations are based on friendship and cooperation. We cooperate very actively in international organizations; Indonesia and Azerbaijan always support each other in UN, OIC and other international organizations. Such support strengthens our partnership and creates stronger political ties,” Charge de Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Embassy Ruslan Nasibov said to Antara in Jakarta on Monday.

Nasibov spoke on topics ranging from the bilateral diplomatic relations to reforms in the Azerbaijan economic development and social and education sectors on the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and 100 years of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Service, and its reception held on Monday.

Bilateral cooperation in the field of public services is also rapidly developing. Azerbaijan is sharing experiences of its own establishment and brand, called the “ASAN Service”, which is a “ONE STOP” system for all public services under one roof. The ASAN Service was awarded the United Nations Public Service Award 2015 for exemplary provision of public service.

The government of Azerbaijan keeps on implementing large-scale reforms in all fields. Azerbaijan’s rapid economic development has transformed the country. In the last 15 years, the level of poverty in the country dropped to 5.4 percent, while the unemployment rate is at 5 percent. Its economy grew more than three times, and 260 billion USD has been invested into the country.

With the population reaching 10 million people on April 6, 2019, foreign currency reserves hit 46 billion USD, five-fold higher than foreign debt. The gasification level of Azerbaijan is 95 percent and the country has been ranked 25th in the latest Doing Business Report by the World Bank, jumping 32 positions in one year and becoming one of the top 10 reformers in the world. Some 15,000 kms of roads and highways were built in Azerbaijan during the last 15 years and it is not surprising that the country is ranked 34th for quality of road infrastructure in the assessment of the Davos World Economic Forum. Azerbaijan has also invested in building bridges between Asia and Europe, and turned into an international transportation hub. “We have built a diversified railroad network connecting us with our neighbors. Among them, is the East-West transportation corridor with the modern Baku Sea Port, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway inaugurated in 2017 and connecting the region with Turkey, and the North-South transportation corridor connecting the Gulf, South and South-East Asia with Northern Europe,” Nasibov said.

He noted that this year, Azerbaijan will assume chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement and would hold the Summit of NAM from October 21-26, 2019 under the theme, “NAM Baku Summit: Upholding the Bandung Principles, to ensure a concerted and adequate response to the challenges of a contemporary world”. “We hope that Indonesia as one of the NAM founders will actively participate in the Summit,” he said.

Nasibov said that this year, Azerbaijan for the first time joined the “Europe on Screen” film festival held in eight cities of Indonesia from 18 to 30 April. Already screened in Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya, a film from Azerbaijan, “Ali and Nino”, which has a team of producers comprising the famous Kris Thykier and Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva as Executive Producer, is based on the eponymous bestseller of Qurban Said.

“I hope all the initiatives of both countries in the sphere of politics, economy and culture will further develop and strengthen our relations and promote people-to-people contact between our nations,” Nasibov said. (ant)