The Republic of Bulgaria
Bilateral diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria recognized the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 14 January 1992. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 5 June 1992.
Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Bulgaria in 2005. The Bulgarian Embassy in Baku opened in 1999.
The signing of Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Bulgaria on 4 March 2015 has elevated bilateral relations to strategic partnership. Arising from the Joint Declaration, two sessions of the Azerbaijan – Bulgaria Strategic Dialogue have been held in Baku and Sofia in 2018 and 2022 respectively, led by the foreign ministers.
With the signing of the "Joint Declaration on Strengthening the Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Bulgaria" by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the President of the Republic of Bulgaria on 8 May 2024 in Baku, the relations between the two countries have been elevated to higher level.
Mutual visits of the Heads of the States
- On March 3-5, 2015, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
- On March 10-11, 2016, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliyev paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
- On October 12-14, 2017, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
- On 30 September - 1 October 2022, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
- On 10 - 11 March 2023, President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
- On 25 April 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev paid a working visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
- On December 10, 2023, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev met with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev within the framework of the opening ceremony of the Serbia-Bulgaria Interconnector in Nis, Serbia.
- On 7-8 May 2024, President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Mutual visits of the Vice Presidents
- On 22 September 2016 First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva paid a working visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Visits of the vice-presidents of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Azerbaijan:
Margarita Popova:
29-30 September 2016 (working visit)
16 December 2016 (working visit)
Iliana Yotova:
5-6 May 2017 (working visit)
Mutual visits of the Prime Ministers
- Visits of Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov to the Republic of Azerbaijan:
January 15-16, 2018 (working visit)
March 14-15, 2019 (working visit)
- Visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov to the Republic of Azerbaijan:
July 21, 2022 (official visit)
Mutual visits of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs
- Visits of foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
October 30-31, 2018 (official visit)
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov
May 30-June 1, 2022 (official visit)
- Visits of the foreign ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria:
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov
May 12-14, 2016 (official visit)
Foreign Minister Yekaterina Zakhariyeva
June 23-25, 2019 (official visit)
Inter-parliamentary relations
The Working Group for Azerbaijani-Bulgarian Inter-Parliamentary Relations was set up in the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan in December 2005. The head of the Working Group is a member of Parliament Mr. Rauf Aliyev. At the 48th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria the Bulgarian-Azerbaijani Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group was chaired by Mr. Hamid Hamid.
- On 11-12 September 2023, Chair of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Sahiba Gafarova paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.
- On 19-21 September 2018 Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria Tsveta Karayancheva paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Contractual and legal framework
69 bilateral agreements have been signed between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.
Economic cooperation
The Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation plays an important role in developing economic collaboration between two countries. The Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria was established on 28 May 28 1999. So far, 5 meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission have been held (in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016 and 2018). The last 5th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission was held on 6-7 November 2018 in Sofia.
The cooperarion in energy sector remains the leading sector in bilateral economic relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.
Trade turnover, exports, and imports between the two countries (in millions of US dollars)
|
Years |
Trade turnover |
Exports |
Imports |
|
2019 |
93.88 |
79.69 |
14.19 |
|
2021 |
72.65 |
54.04 |
18.65 |
|
2022 |
325.41 |
292.12 |
33.29 |
|
2023 |
510.96 |
481.92 |
29.04 |
Source: The State Customs Committee of the Respublic of Azerbaijan
Diplomatic Representation
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: Sofia 1113, 6 Charles Darwin Street, Bulgaria
Official website: www.sofia.mfa.gov.az