Bilateral political relations: Germany recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on January 12, 1992. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Germany were established on February 10, 1992. Embassy of Azerbaijan to Germany opened on September 2, 1992 and Embassy of Germany to Azerbaijan opened on September 22, 1992 respectively. After the establishment of diplomatic relations, the connections between Azerbaijan and Germany regularly developed.

On December 22, 1995, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Klaus Kinkel was on an official visit to Azerbaijan. At the meeting with Klaus Kinkel President Heydar Aliyev highly appreciated the help of Germany to Azerbaijan within the European Union. The President of Azerbaijan said that he expects the Minister of Foreign Affairs to increase assistance of Germany in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In the framework of the visit, five agreements on cooperation in political, economic, and scientific and technical spheres were signed. During past years, successful cooperation continued between Germany and Azerbaijan in the field of defense, political safety and struggle against terrorism.

In May 2001, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Joschka Fischer visited Azerbaijan together with the deputy chairman of Bundestag Antje Follmer. At the meeting with the German delegation President Heydar Aliyev said that he appreciated the cooperation between the two countries highly, he expressed his satisfaction with the successful activities of German companies in Azerbaijan and he wished it long-lasting. The Azerbaijani President expressed his hope for the corresponding activities of the Federal Republic of Germany in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said:" ... We hope that as a member of the Minsk Group Germany will continue its activities in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, in liberation of 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenians and return home of IDPs, which is an important issue for us." Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Joschka Fischer promised the help of his country in the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue within their capabilities.

On April 21-22, 2004, during his next visit to Azerbaijan Joschka Fischer met Ilham Aliyev. Economic, political and security issues were discussed during the meeting.

On August 24-26, 2004, President Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to Germany at the invitation of the German President. The development of relations between the two countries, the state of mutual political relations, regional and international issues were discussed at the meetings held with the President of Germany Horst Köhler and Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.

On February 14-16, 2007, during his visit to Germany President Ilham Aliyev met the chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and discussed the issues of development of prospects between the two countries, as well as Azerbaijan and the European Union, successful implementation of economic reforms, and the Armenian- Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On February 4-6, 2010, President Ilham Aliyev paid another official visit to Germany. During the meeting Aliyev met the chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. Mrs Merkel said that Germany is ready to support Azerbaijan in various fields and also mentioned that Azerbaijan is an important partner for Germany. In his turn Aliyev said that there is a demand for German technology in our modernizing country, and Azerbaijan is ready to present its contribution to solve the issues of energy safety in Europe.

Economic relations: Visit of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to Germany on July 1-4, 1996, played an important role in the development of economic relations between Azerbaijan and Germany. President Heydar Aliyev met the representatives of business groups, heads of large companies and entrepreneurs in the banking and financial sector, in a major economic center of Germany, in Cologne. Speaking about the potentials of the economy of Azerbaijan economy and the conditions created for the international business, he called the German businessmen to invest in Azerbaijan. This visit played an important role in attracting foreign investments and international loans to Azerbaijan.

At present about 100 German companies are operating in Azerbaijan. Large companies such as "Siemens", "Ferrosstal ", " Interselekt ", " Mercedes Benz " do successful business in Azerbaijan. Annual trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Germany is about 350-400 million euros. Mainly, automobiles, iron and steel products, industrial equipments are imported from Germany to Azerbaijan.

The Agreement on abrogation of double taxation in respect to income and property taxes signed on August 25, 2004, Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Republic of Germany on Financial Cooperation, Financing Contract between the Ministry of Economic Development representing the Republic of Azerbaijan and the German Bank of Development, on granting of financial assistance for establishment of the "Credit Guarantee Fund", Special Agreement concerning this Contract, Contract of Agency and Contract on settlement of disputes in arbitrages signed on August 14, 2006 serve the strengthening of economic ties.

Cultural relations: Cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Germany are developing intensively. Development of cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Germany connected with the contract on cultural cooperation was signed on December 22, 1995. The Azerbaijani-German Mixed Commission, which had been created on this contract, met on February 4-6, 1997 and on November 4-6, 2002.

On November 19, 1999, at Istanbul summit of OSCE, in the Palace "Çirağan", President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev met Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder. During the meeting President Heydar Aliyev presented the Chancellor of Germany, a decree and a letter about the return of drawings of Gallery of Bremen, which were brought to Azerbaijan in 1947. He said: "Mr. Chancellor, we give you these two pictures and the drawings, which are in New York in the judicial authorities. I also give you the documents related to the pictures, which we keep in our museum since 1947."

2008, was declared the Year of Azerbaijan in Germany. With that end in view, the delegation of 120 people in number headed by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan paid a visit to Germany. Cultural events in Berlin lasted a week. During the year the Azerbaijani culture was demonstrated in Munich, Mains, Stuttgart, and other major cities of Germany. Within the year of Azerbaijan in Germany, on June 12-July 15, 2008, in Dresden Gallery there was an exhibition of modern Azerbaijani art. Works of famous Azerbaijani artists were shown at the exhibition.

Germany is one of the countries with a strong economy and with sufficient political authority among the countries of the world. From this point of view, Azerbaijan has always been interested in the development of economic, political and cultural relations with Germany. Azerbaijan, as a country of oil and gas, is one of the important partners of Germany in international projects.