(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 20. Deputy
PM of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Azerbaijani part of the
Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between Azerbaijan and
Russia's Republic of Dagestan in the economic and humanitarian
fields, Shahin Mustafayev, and Chairman of the government of
Dagestan, Chairman of the Dagestan part of the Commission
Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov met in Baku on February 20, trend reports with
reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
The successful development of bilateral relations
between Azerbaijan and Russia was noted at the meeting. It was
emphasized that through the efforts of the heads of the two
countries, interstate relations have reached the level of strategic
partnership.
Shahin Mustafayev said that Azerbaijan maintains
economic ties with about 80 regions of the Russian Federation.
'Agreements on trade, economic, scientific, technical,
and cultural cooperation have been signed with about 20 regions,
including the Republic of Dagestan,' the deputy PM added.
It was also noted that the history of relations
between the people of Azerbaijan and Dagestan, who share common
historical, linguistic, cultural, and spiritual values, dates back
centuries.
Furthermore, the role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev
in the development of ties between the people of Azerbaijan and
Dagestan was also stressed.
'Today, President Ilham Aliyev pays special attention
to the development of Azerbaijani-Dagestan relations as part of the
strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Russia. Evidence of
this is the instruction of the head of state to increase our
cooperation by using the existing considerable potential,'
Mustafayev said.
In addition, it was noted that following the results
of the December meeting between the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham
Aliyev, and the Head of Dagestan Sergey Melikov, some promising
areas for joint projects were defined.
'We attach great importance to the agreements of the
leaders. To implement these agreements, the parties have prepared
and agreed on an Action Plan for the development of key areas of
cooperation,' the deputy PM said.
It was noted that special attention in the Action Plan
is paid to the development of trade and economic cooperation and
the intensification of investment attraction. It was noted that the
document also provides for the formation of industrial cooperation,
with the prospect of setting up joint ventures in the glass sector
and cooperation in the field of shipbuilding.
The parties noted the good potential for the
development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Dagestan in the
agricultural sector.
It was noted that the Action Plan also provides for
the implementation of joint measures to develop the international
North-South transport corridor and improve the border
infrastructure. Moreover, it was emphasized that the Azerbaijan is
carrying out work on the building and reconstruction of roads and
railways leading to checkpoints on the state border with the
Russian Federation.
According to Mustafayev, the president of Azerbaijan
allocated funds as part of bilateral agreements for the
reconstruction and enlargement of the 24-kilometer-long roadway to
four lanes between the Samur and Khanoba border checkpoints as well
as for the reconstruction of the Khanoba customs post. It was also
noted that the work for the construction of the Khanoba customs
post, adjacent to the Tagirkent-Kazmalyar checkpoint on the
territory of Dagestan is being completed.
Stressing that the key link of the international
transport corridors passing through the territory of Azerbaijan is
the Baku International Commercial Sea Port, the deputy PM noted the
work to increase the port's capacity from 15 million tons to 25
million tons per year.
Mustafayev also noted that the experience of
Azerbaijan in development of the port infrastructure may be of
interest to Dagestan, in terms of reconstruction of the Makhachkala
International Seaport.
'Our intention to establish cooperation between the
Baku and Makhachkala ports is also enshrined in the Action Plan,'
he said.
According to the Action Plan, the parties agreed to
hold events in Azerbaijan dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, the memory of
statesman Aziz Aliyev in Dagestan, and the 100th anniversary of the
national poet of Dagestan Rasul Gamzatov.
The document also provides for the organization of
mutual cultural events in Azerbaijan and Dagestan and the
establishment of direct professional and creative contacts between
cultural institutions.
Following the meeting, Shahin Mustafayev and
Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov signed an Action Plan for the development
of key areas of cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and
the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation for
2023-2025.
