Ilham Aliyev and Milos Zeman attend Azerbaijani-Czech business forum

The Azerbaijan-Czech business forum was held in Baku today. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Czech President Milos Zeman attended the forum.

President Aliyev greeted the participants and said that the meetings held so far between the businessmen of the two countries strengthen ties. He stressed that the bilateral relations are of a strategic nature, noting the importance of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, signed during President Zeman’s visit.

Aliyev stressed the importance of the further development of Azerbaijan-Czech economic cooperation, also noting the importance of good coordination of relations between the business circles.

Ilham Aliyev said that the Czech banks’ participation in Azerbaijani projects and new areas of cooperation were discussed as part of the visit. President Aliyev spoke about the transport possibilities in terms of cooperation. The president stressed in this regard the significance of the projects of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Baku International Sea Trade Port.

He noted that Azerbaijan is a reliable supplier of oil to the Czech Republic and underlined Azerbaijan’s role in the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project. He added that the country has become a major player on the European gas market. The president said that this project will create opportunities for Azerbaijan to diversify its supply routes, Trend reports.

President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman stressed certain similarities between the two countries, which is evident in the field of the economy.

He said that more than 30% of oil imported into the Czech Republic comes from Azerbaijan and said that more than 200 Azerbaijani students study in the Czech Republic. Zeman also expressed confidence that the two countries will take advantage of the created opportunities.