On October 16, Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, received the credentials of Sophie Lagoutte, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic.

During the meeting, Aliyev recalled his discussions with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, in Copenhagen, noting that past misunderstandings between the two countries had been resolved and emphasizing that a new era had begun in bilateral relations. He highlighted the importance of restoring and developing contacts between citizens and business representatives, as well as enhancing cooperation in cultural and humanitarian fields.

Sophie Lagoutte, in turn, stated that a new chapter had opened in Azerbaijan-France relations and pledged to make every effort to further develop bilateral ties. The meeting also covered the successful development of cooperation between the two countries across various sectors, including high technologies and aerospace.

Both sides underlined the significance of resuming the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission, strengthening sister-city relations, facilitating reciprocal visits by business delegations, and encouraging French company participation in Azerbaijani projects. Energy cooperation, particularly the partnership with Total, was highlighted as a key area of collaboration. The parties exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral ties in multiple fields and stressed the necessity of continuing and expanding cooperation.