On 6 October, while in Kazakhstan for the 24th Session of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade met with Vice President of Kazakhstan Yerlan Karin.
Yerlan Karin warmly welcomed the Sheikh-ul-Islam, conveyed the greetings of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and highly praised his active participation in the Astana Congresses.
Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade conveyed the greetings of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. He highlighted the elevation of relations between the two countries to the level of strategic partnership and the development of religious and spiritual ties, and wished success to Kazakhstan's new Constitution and Parliament.
The Sheikh-ul-Islam described the Astana Congresses as a prestigious interfaith platform with a history of more than two decades and noted President Tokayev's role in the forum's success. He wished Yerlan Karin success in leading the Congress Secretariat.
Yerlan Karin spoke about the new Parliament and said the status of the Secretariat has been strengthened. The two sides stressed the relevance of the documents on the role of religions in combating climate change and on a code of ethics for artificial intelligence. Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade referred to the Baku Declaration adopted within the framework of COP29.
The Sheikh-ul-Islam also briefed his host on the 7th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Boards of the Organization of Turkic States and the international conference on Seyyid Yahya Bakuvi. He noted the conference participants' visit to liberated Karabakh and the reconstruction under way there, and said President Ilham Aliyev's address had been warmly received by the religious leaders.
It was announced that a summit of religious leaders will be held next year within the framework of Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, as guest of honour. The Sheikh-ul-Islam invited Yerlan Karin to the summit, and the invitation was gladly accepted.
Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade offered condolences over the Kazakh servicemen who lost their lives during a military exercise in the Caspian Sea. He also recalled the assistance Kazakhstan provided after the AZAL plane crash as an example of brotherhood.
Javanshir Pashazade, a member of the Milli Majlis, also spoke at the meeting. He discussed bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary cooperation, and said the opening of the Zangezur corridor will further develop economic and logistical ties.
Azerbaijan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kazakhstan, Alimirzamin Askarov, also attended the meeting.