India and Azerbaijan Seek to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

India and Azerbaijan signaled a renewed effort to strengthen bilateral ties on October 23, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku. The meetings covered political engagement, trade and investment, energy, transport links and people-to-people connections, according to statements by officials from both countries. Jaishankar said his discussions with Bayramov charted a way forward and that the two sides agreed to deepen political consultations, exchange visits, expand economic activity, improve connectivity and foster people-to-people ties. He described the talks as focused on strengthening relations. Bayramov called the meeting positive and said the countries’ relationship was on its way to a higher level. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said the ministers discussed cooperation in energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and information technology, as well as trade and investment. Transport corridors linking East-West and North-South routes were also on the agenda. Jaishankar said the countries would coordinate more closely on the International North-South Transport Corridor. The officials also discussed the...