Azerbaijani-Russian strategic ties recognize their joint achievements
By Aynur Karimova
Azerbaijan and Russia characterize their bilateral relations as strategic ties, and this is the recognition of joint achievements in the two countries' cooperation.
This was stated by President Ilham Aliyev at a meeting with a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on March 3.
President Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Russia enjoy active political relations, and underlined regular ties between the heads of state.
The head of state noted that they discuss many important issues with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin both during their personal contacts and phone conversations, adding that there is mutual understanding on a number of issues.
Touching upon the bilateral trade between the two countries, President Aliyev said active work is being carried out to increase the export of Azerbaijani products to Russia. He also expressed Azerbaijan's interest in the Russian exports' occupying one of the important, top places in the country's import.
Saying that the cooperation between the two countries is successfully developing in all fields, President Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan attached significant importance to the bilateral relations in political, economic, energy, military-technical and humanitarian fields.
Rogozin, in turn, said despite the global economic crisis in recent years and the known processes on the energy market, the Joint Intergovernmental Commission of Azerbaijan and Russia managed to expand cooperation.
"Today we see that the contacts between the two heads of state not just increased, as apart from bilateral relations they already embrace the whole spectrum of regional affairs,” he noted.
Rogozin added that the Joint Intergovernmental Commission is discussing the expansion of bilateral ties between Moscow and Baku in a variety of areas, including economy, culture and education.
He emphasized Azerbaijan's support to Russia at a time when the country faced sanctions, and hailed the increase in the export of Azerbaijani agricultural products to Russia.
Rogozin said Azerbaijan's agricultural products are widely popular in Russia, adding that special warehouses were built for storing these products.
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia is based on the principles of mutual respect and good neighborly relations. Being long-time partners, the two countries are keen to continue developing multilateral cooperation in the future.
Currently, the relations between the two neighboring countries have reached the level of strategic partnership. The all-around strengthening of cooperation with Russia has been and remains one of the main priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy.
Rogozin said on his Twitter page that Russia and Azerbaijan are responsible and reliable partners in military and technical cooperation.
"The major result of the Baku visit is that the parties confirmed they are responsible and reliable partners in such a sensitive area as military and technical cooperation," he tweeted.
Economic ties between Baku and Moscow are at a high level as well. Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee reported earlier that the Azerbaijani-Russian trade turnover amounted to $1.85 billion in 2015. Some $416.77 million accounted for the export to Russia.
Today, more than 600 companies with Russian capital operate in Azerbaijan. Russian investments in the country’s economy have recently amounted to more than $1.8 billion. The leading Azerbaijani companies successfully operate in the regions of the Russian Federation. Direct Azerbaijani investments in the Russian economy have amounted to more than $1 billion for the last 10 years.
--
Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz