POLITICS
South-East Europe and Trans-Caspian Business Summit held as part of Global Baku Forum
On March 15, the "South-East Europe and Trans-Caspian Business Summit," co-organized by The Economist magazine, was held as part of the ongoing 13th Global Baku Forum. The panel discussion, held under the theme “Expanding Corridors for Partnership in Energy and Infrastructure,” featured speeches from notable figures including Ismail Serageldin, Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center; Boris Tadić, former President of Serbia, and others.
Speakers noted that major transformations have occurred globally over the last decade, with climate change and armed conflicts of global and regional nature disrupting the world order. Alongside the Global South, the ability for people to live safely has also become a challenge in the Global North. While the rapid development of modern technologies drives socio-economic progress on one hand, it has simultaneously become a tool for warfare. Consequently, today’s world leaders must unite to find solutions to systemic problems and exert serious efforts to ensure peace and security. To establish this unity, cooperation with international organizations must be further expanded.
Energy cooperation was also addressed during the discussions. Speakers highlighted that reducing carbon emissions and halting the discharge of other toxic gases into the atmosphere is critical to preventing climate change. To achieve this, it is necessary to increase energy production from alternative sources and encourage investment in this sector.
Azerbaijan is currently implementing projects of a global nature. Playing a vital role in ensuring Europe's energy security, Azerbaijan now exports natural gas to 16 countries. Furthermore, serving as a bridge between Central Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan is preparing to transit alternative energy produced in Central Asian countries to the "Old Continent." The energy corridor intended to connect the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea is seen as a major contribution to global energy supply. Other panels at the forum included discussions and exchanges of ideas on the war in the Middle East and its solutions, modern urban planning methods, the development of information technologies, the impact of artificial intelligence on society, and several other pressing issues.
