Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The rapid and successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia on all fronts was high on the agenda of talks held between a Russian delegation and Azerbaijani top officials.

The delegation led by Deputy Head of the Russian government and Co-chair of the Russian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission Dmitry Rogozin first met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on September 15.

The head of state stressed the importance of the issues on the agenda of the Russian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

Recalling with satisfaction his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, President Aliyev said fruitful discussions were held during the meeting on the development of bilateral relations.

The Azerbaijani president also said currently, there are good opportunities for increasing trade and further expanding economic cooperation.

Rogozin, for his part, said the objectives set by the heads of state at the Sochi meeting, as well as the establishment of a high-level working group for expansion of cooperation in the energy sector and other areas will be discussed at the meeting of the commission.

Later, Baku hosted the 14th meeting of Russian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission.

Addressing the meeting Azerbaijan's First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov praised holding of the meeting of the commission after a long break.

"I am confident that the negotiations with a large Russian delegation will give a push to further bilateral cooperation. Today, the President of Azerbaijan noted future priorities of cooperation between our countries, and hailed our relationship," Eyyubov said.

He also noted Russia has always been Azerbaijan's best friend and neighbor.

"We have always lived together and collaborated closely. We must be together in difficult times. Together we will always remain strong. Russia is a powerful country rich in natural recourses," Eyyubov added.

In his remarks Rogozin said relations between the two countries have been intensified in recent times, and during the period when Russia's economy was going through difficult times, the two countries remained even closer.

He noted currently, the Azerbaijani economy is rapidly developing, and its products are supplied to the Russian markets.

Rogozin also revealed the trade figures. He said the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $3.6 billion in 2013, and "in January-July, 2014 this figure stood at $2.2 billion."

The Russian official also noted the time has come for Russia and Azerbaijan to create joint ventures.

"Now the time has come to establish joint ventures in various areas," Rogozin said. "It can be either processing of agricultural products, or for example, cooperation in the energy sector, or issues related to industrial production."

He said given the recent world developments, there are appropriate ground for uniting Russia and Azerbaijan.

"Today, we see that Azerbaijani products are coming to the Russian markets as part of the policy of replacing imports," Rogozin said, adding that Azerbaijani products are in full demand.

During the negotiations, the sides also discussed main priorities of development of trade and economic relations between the two countries, cooperation in the fields of customs, transport, communications and information technologies, prevention and elimination of emergency situations, regional cooperation with the federal subjects of Russia.

Following the meeting, the two countries signed bilateral agreements. According to the commission's protocol, signed by Rogozin and Eyyubov, the next meeting of the commission will be held in Yekaterinburg as part of the 6th Azerbaijan-Russia Interregional Forum in 2015.

The commission's previous meeting was held in the Russian capital Moscow on March 18, 2011. The commission's activity was restored after a meeting of its Co-chairmen - Rogozin and Eyyubov in Moscow on August 20, 2014.

Also, Azerbaijan and Russia agreed on the establishment of a fair trade center in Moscow, and the relevant agreement was signed by Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexei Likhachev and Azerbaijani Minister of Economy and Industry Shahin Mustafayev.

The commission also instructed the Russian Rostselmash Combine Factory to study organizing the joint assembly production of grain and forage harvesting combines on the basis of machine-building enterprises of Azerbaijan. This issue will be studied together with the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry and the Ministry of Economy and Industry.

Azerbaijani and Russian Agriculture Ministries will establish a working group on cooperation in the field of agro-industrial complex and on the implementation of the supply of agricultural products.

The sides are instructed to consider the possibility of increasing the supply of agricultural products from Azerbaijan to Russia by further involving the business circles and taking prompt measures to facilitate this process.

Russia is the main trade partner of Azerbaijan in the CIS. It also ranks first among the countries importing from Azerbaijan.

Currently, there are 570 companies with Russian capital in Azerbaijan. Russia has recently invested $628.4 million in Azerbaijan's fixed capital. But Azerbaijan's investment in the Russian economy for 10 years amounted to nearly $1 billion.