The seventh Azerbaijani-Russian inter-regional forum was opened in the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku today. Before the plenary session, its participants laid wreaths at the monument to Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev and at the Eternal Flame monument.
The Departmental Chief of the Russian President on inter-regional and cultural relations with foreign countries, Vladimir Chernov, delivered a message from President Vladimir Putin and the President's Aide for Public and Political Affairs, the head of the Department of Social and Political Affairs at the Presidential Administration, Ali Hasanov, delivered a message from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in his congratulatory letter that Russian-Azerbaijani interregional forums contribute to cooperation between the two countries.
“This forum supports development of the areas of mutual interests. Such forums create constructive initiatives, contribute to deepening of relations between the two countries, allow exchange of experience in industry and agriculture. The two countries have economic potential and joint working experience. Currently, the global crisis led to serious changes in the world. I hope the forum will create condition for constructive discussions, result in interesting projects and bring benefit to our countries,” APA cited him as saying.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his letter of congratulations that there have been friendly and good neighborly relations between Russia and Azerbaijan for centuries.
Putin stressed that this forum will give impetus to the process of integration and cooperation based on mutual interests.
“We hope that constructive dialogue will be held within the forum and its agenda will contribute to the economic cooperation and deepening of corporate relations,” the Russian president said.
Then a plenary session was held. The Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev, the Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Alexander Tsybulsky, and ambassadors of both countries, Polad Bulbuloglu and Vladimir Dorokhin, addressed the session.
Shahin Mustafayev said that Russia invested over $3 billion in Azerbaijan’s economy recent years and Azerbaijan invested over $1 billion in Russia’s economy.
According to him, there is a free trade regime between the two countries: “This contributes to trade links and cooperation among the businessmen”.
"In January-September 2016, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia increased. Currently, Russia ranks 3rd in Azerbaijan’s trade turnover," he concluded.
Ali Hasanov, in turn, said that the forum is an important platform for the two countries’ relations, adding that every year about 500 people from the two sides take part in the forum.
Azerbaijani presidential aide for public and political affairs noted that a wide range of issues of cooperation in the economic, industrial, agricultural, trade and humanitarian spheres are expected to be discussed during the forum.
According to him, reports on the work done since the latest forum until now will be presented at the forum and proposals for the upcoming years will be mulled.
Hasanov stressed that this forum is very relevant in the current state of international and regional relations.
“The forum serves the interests of the peoples of both countries. Russia-Azerbaijan ties are developing day by day. The development of the relations is in the spotlight of the two countries’ presidents,” Hasanov concluded.
The plenary session was also attended by the chief executive of Narimanov district, Abdin Farzaliyev, the head of the Republic of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, the chief executive of the Khachmaz region, Shamsaddin Hanbabaev, the governor of the Tyumen region, Vladimir Yakushev and the chief executive of the Imishli region, William Hajiyev.
There will be round-tables within the forum: "Industry: prospects of bilateral cooperation", "The development of cooperation in tourism: problems and prospects" and "Main directions of expansion of cooperation in the agricultural sector", the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reports.
