Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia discussed prospects for economic cooperation at the meeting of Azerbaijan's Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev with Saudi Arabian Deputy Foreign Minister Yousef Terad Al-Saadon in Baku.

Addressing the meeting, Al-Saadon said the first forum on economy and cooperation of Arab countries with Central Asian states and Azerbaijan will be held in Riyadh in May.

He added that this event will have significance in expansion of ties between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia.

The guest said he visits Azerbaijan for the first time and expressed satisfaction with the dynamic socio-economic development going on in the country.

The meeting discussed a wide range of opportunities to increase trade between Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, and it was noted that holding meetings will improve development of trade and economic ties.

Shahin Mustafayev, in turn, said cooperation in various fields, including economy, continues successfully between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, adding that activity of the joint commission plays the role in the development of economic relations.

"Azerbaijan has turned into a political, economic and cultural center of the region," he added.

The Azerbaijani minister also provided the guest with information on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noting that Saudi Arabia has always supported Azerbaijan's position on this issue.

Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom, which was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan, on February 24, 1992. In April 1994, the Azerbaijani Embassy opened in Riyadh, followed by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Baku in June of 1999.

Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries to provide active humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan. From 1994-1999, Saudi Arabia, starting with the program under King Fahd, repeatedly provided humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs and provided them with food, medicine and other necessities. Several disabled persons of the Karabakh war in 1999 were treated in Saudi Arabia.