Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, met with Kazakhstan’s Vice President Erlan Karin during his visit to Kazakhstan to attend the 24th session of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Axar.az reports that Karin welcomed Pashazade to Kazakhstan and conveyed greetings from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. He praised Pashazade’s active and regular participation in the Astana Congresses and meetings of its Secretariat, noting his role as one of the initiators of the Congress.

Pashazade, in turn, asked Karin to convey Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s greetings and best wishes to Tokayev. He said that the relations between the two countries’ leaders, based on mutual respect, as well as the elevation of bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership, have contributed to the development of cooperation in all areas, including the religious and spiritual sphere.

Pashazade congratulated Karin on his appointment as Kazakhstan’s first vice president and wished him success in his new position. He also expressed hope that Kazakhstan’s ongoing reforms would contribute to the prosperity of the Kazakh people.

The sides discussed the work of the Astana Congress, an international platform for interfaith dialogue, as well as issues on the agenda of its Secretariat’s 24th session, including the role of religions in addressing climate change and the presentation of an ethical code for the use of artificial intelligence.

Pashazade highlighted the relevance of these issues, noting that the Baku Declaration adopted at the Religious Leaders’ Summit held during COP29 in Baku also addressed climate change and related challenges.

He also briefed Karin on the recent meeting of Muslim religious leaders of the Organization of Turkic States in Baku and the first international conference dedicated to Seyyid Yahya Bakuvi. He noted that the participation of Kazakhstan’s Chief Mufti Nauryzbay Taganuly and the Kazakh delegation had contributed to the event’s international significance.

Pashazade invited Karin to attend a forthcoming summit of religious leaders to be held in Azerbaijan next year as part of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The invitation was accepted.

The sides also exchanged views on bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation. Pashazade expressed condolences for the Kazakh servicemen who recently died during a military exercise in the Caspian Sea and recalled Kazakhstan’s assistance following the AZAL plane crash, describing it as an example of brotherly solidarity.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kazakhstan Alimirzamin Asgarov and Azerbaijani MP Javanshir Pashazade also attended the meeting.