(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Vugar Khalilov
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran has gone up by 18
percent in the first half of 2022, Azernews reports, citing
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
Azerbaijan's top diplomat made the remarks at a meeting in
Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
during his official visit to the country, the report adds.
Bayramov stated that trade turnover between the two nations
climbed by 30 percent in the previous year and by 18 percent in the
first half of 2022, adding that there is still room for growth in
this area.
The minister expressed gratitude for the invitation and
hospitality. Recalling the Iranian foreign minister's visit to
Azerbaijan in December 2021, Bayramov emphasized the importance of
reciprocal visits for the development of bilateral ties. It was
underlined that having two meetings between the country's
presidents in such a short period of time is an indication of the
improvement of ties between Azerbaijan and Iran.
The importance of Azerbaijan-Iran energy cooperation,
particularly the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi projects, was
emphasized. Furthermore, the significance of the North-South
International Transport Corridor, where excellent regional
cooperation exists between the two nations, particularly in the
sphere of transportation, was highlighted.
The parties underlined the importance of the ongoing
construction of the railway terminal in Astara, as well as the
construction of the bridge over the Astara River.
Bayramov briefed his counterpart about Azerbaijan's
post-conflict rehabilitation activities in the liberated lands,
noting with satisfaction the participation of Iranian firms in this
process. The minister also highlighted Azerbaijan's efforts to
promote regional peace, stating that the country is ready for
normalization of relations with Armenia based on strict adherence
to international law norms.
In turn, Amir-Abdollahian thanked Bayramov for accepting the
invitation and visiting Iran.
He noted with delight the accomplishments and documents signed
during the meeting of the two nations' leaders. The minister said
that Azerbaijan occupied a vital role in Iran's foreign policy and
that cooperation between the two countries in different domains,
including economics, commerce, transport, and energy, is
successfully developing.
Amir-Abdollahian stressed that Iran is determined to implement
the memorandum of understanding on the establishment of new
communication links between Azerbaijan's Eastern Zangezur economic
region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via Iran.
The parties also addressed multilateral cooperation, regional
concerns, and other areas of mutual interest. The need for
retaining the 3+3 regional model was emphasized. Simultaneously,
the importance of collaboration in the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Iran
framework was emphasized, and it was appreciated that the next
meeting in this format would be held by Iran.
Furthermore, Bayramov met with Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim
Raisi on July 4, 2022, as part of his official visit to Iran.
Raisi recalled with delight his November 28 meeting with
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Ashgabat, sending heartfelt
greetings to his counterpart.
Underlining the deep roots of the Iran-Azerbaijan relations,
Raisi said that cultural and historical ties between the two
nations are based on the desire of the two nations. He emphasized
the need for increasing commercial turnover to ensure the continued
growth of ties, noting that bilateral relations would also assist
in regional cooperation.
Bayramov, for his part, spoke about the two nations' historical,
religious, and cultural links, and emphasized the importance of the
summits of the heads of states for the development of relations. In
this regard, he emphasized the significance of two previous
meetings between the two presidents.
The minister stated that productive conversations with his
counterpart were held in Iran in line with the orders and
agreements established at the meeting of the two countries'
presidents in Ashgabat.
Bayramov also noted the two nations' collaborative initiatives
in the domains of energy, transportation, and communication. The
significance of establishing new communication linkages between
Azerbaijan's East Zangazur economic zone and the Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic, as well as the fulfillment of collaborative
projects in the liberated regions, was stressed in this
respect.
The parties discussed the present regional situation,
emphasizing the need for preserving regional peace and security, as
well as regional cooperation in this regard.
In the same vein, Bayramov met with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,
Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran on July 4,
2022, as part of his official visit to Iran. Bayramov stressed the
importance of reciprocal trips in the development of bilateral
ties, recalling his December 2020 visit to Iran and the friendly
meeting during the visit.
The Azerbaijani top diplomat emphasized the importance of
high-level meetings and visits of delegations in the development of
mutual ties between the two neighboring countries. He recalled the
vice-speaker of the Iranian Parliament's participation at the Baku
conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, which
was recently held in Azerbaijan.
Bayramov briefed the opposing party on the present regional
situation, Azerbaijan's plans for establishing peace and stability
in the post-conflict period, and the efforts made in that regard.
He added that the liberation of Azerbaijan's 132-kilometer border
with Iran from Armenian occupation opens up new chances for
collaboration.
In reply, referring to the Azerbaijani-Iranian cultural and
religious ties, Ghalibaf noted that developing connections with
neighboring countries is a priority for Iran. He emphasized that
his country is keen on increasing economic and trade partnerships
with Azerbaijan in this regard.
Ghalibaf stressed that Iran is always willing to help create
communication linkages between the Eastern Zangezur Economic Region
and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Iran is resolved to see
these initiatives through.
Moreover, he said that Iran is interested in participating in
the rehabilitation and restoration of Azerbaijan's Eastern Zangazur
and Karabakh economic regions.
Other regional topics of mutual concern were also covered at the
meeting, and the significance of maintaining regional peace and
stability was underscored.
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