BAKU, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- In a landmark visit, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia paid his first official visit to Azerbaijan, meeting with President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday to discuss broadening bilateral ties, the Azerbaijani president's office said.

The visit is expected to lay the foundation for the two countries' closer cooperation in education, defense, energy, and public services.

Aliyev welcomed the visit as a significant step in strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries. "I am confident this visit will open a new page in our partnership," he said. "We have discussed numerous areas of mutual interest, and the agreements signed today will help elevate our bilateral ties."

One of the key topics discussed is expanding educational cooperation. Aliyev highlighted the success of the scholarship programs, through which Somali students are already studying in Azerbaijan, and announced plans to increase the number of students from Somalia and to foster greater academic exchanges.

"This agreement will allow us to provide modern educational programs that are essential for Somalia's development," Aliyev added.

Defense cooperation is another critical area of focus, with both leaders emphasizing the potential for collaboration in personnel training and equipment manufacturing.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan is an exporter of defense-related products. "Potentially, the joint manufacturing of defense equipment and supply of defense equipment from Azerbaijan to Somalia should be one of the important areas of our cooperation."

The two countries signed several memoranda of understanding to deepen cooperation in green energy, education, and defense. Aliyev noted that a recent Azerbaijani delegation's visit to Somalia had laid the groundwork for future investments.

Mohamud expressed his appreciation for Azerbaijan's hospitality and the productive discussions. "This visit marks the beginning of a strategic alliance between our two nations," he said.

"We are eager to benefit from Azerbaijan's experience in energy, infrastructure, and education while exploring opportunities in trade and logistics, particularly given Somalia's strategic location by the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea," Mohamud said.

Both leaders reiterated their commitment to mutual support in international organizations, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. "Today is just the beginning," Mohamud said, expressing the hope for continued collaboration and future visits. Enditem

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