On 9 February 2026, the Seoul Institute of Global Affairs (SIGA) held a meeting in Baku with Dr. Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the AIR Center. The SIGA delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Bongchul Kim, President of SIGA, with the participation of Professors Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu and Rovshan Ibrahimov of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

The discussions focused on Azerbaijan’s growing strategic importance within the Middle Corridor, as well as the increasingly prominent role of Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries as a more integrated and holistic regional actor. The meeting also addressed the current state of Korea–Azerbaijan political relations and explored potential areas for expanding cooperation beyond traditional diplomacy.

In this context, the sides exchanged views on possible collaboration in emerging fields such as the green economy, artificial intelligence, and smart city development. Both institutions agreed on the importance of translating these discussions into concrete joint projects and strengthening institutional ties in the period ahead.