(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 24. Relations betweenAzerbaijan and Russia have a long history, and nowadays theserelations are dynamically developing, MP Azer Badamov told Trend .
According to him, President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Russia onApril 22 opened a new page in the development of relations betweenthe two countries.
"Within the framework of the visit, the two heads of state helddiscussions on issues related to the development and strengtheningof relations between the countries, including regional security between our countries are based on mutual respect andfriendship. These relationships have a very long history. Over theyears of independence, 263 documents related to the development andexpansion of cooperation between our countries have been signed. OnFebruary 22, 2022, the Declaration on Allied Cooperation wassigned. The parliaments of our countries closely cooperate andcontribute to the comprehensive development of relations betweenour countries," he said.
The MP noted that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia invarious directions is deepening day by day.
"If we look at the dynamics of the development of economic ties,we will see that these increasing dynamics have become sustainable, in 2023, trade turnover between our countries increased by17.5 percent and exceeded $4 billion. The volume of transportationthrough our country on the North-South route increased by 17percent. More than a thousand Russian companies are registered inAzerbaijan today. Russia has invested more than $8 billion, andAzerbaijan, in turn, has invested more than $6 billion in theRussian economy. Russia occupies an important place in Azerbaijan'snon-oil exports," Badamov said.
The deputy noted that relations between the two countries arealso developing in humanitarian and cultural spheres. "Today,154,000 pupils study in 324 Russian-language schools operating inAzerbaijan. More than 801,000 students study Russian as a secondforeign language. Students can continue their studies inRussian-speaking groups at 28 higher education institutions. Everyyear, about 270 of our young people have the opportunity to studyin Russian universities under the quota allocated to Azerbaijanicitizens," he said.
Badamov added that during the visit to Moscow, the AzerbaijaniPresident also attended a solemn event dedicated to the 50thanniversary of BAM construction.
"Russia remembers the special contribution and role of NationalLeader Heydar Aliyev in the construction of the Baikal-AmurMainline. It was a project of all-union significance, within theframework of which more than 2 million young people were mobilized most difficult thing was the construction of the railroadthrough roadless Siberian forests. Realizing the difficulties ofthe realization of the project, the Soviet leadership entrusted itto Heydar Aliyev. They knew that only Heydar Aliyev's experience,leadership skills, and determination could help realize thisproject, which happened. Heydar Aliyev mobilized all efforts forthe construction of BAM, traveled to construction sites, met withcollectives, and gave assignments. This attention and caremotivated me even more, and the construction project was completedahead of schedule. Those who participated in the construction ofBAM do not forget about it even today and honor the memory ofHeydar Aliyev. Including the railway station in Angoya settlement,which was named after Heydar Aliyev," he said.
He added that the North-South transport corridor created todaywith Azerbaijan's participation will connect the North Sea with theIndian Ocean.
"The formation of this international transport corridor willincrease our geopolitical importance in the greater region byincreasing our countries' participation in internationaltransportation through the formation of a major route that willprovide transportation from the Persian Gulf to the North Sea cooperation and friendly ties between Azerbaijan andRussia also brings stability and security to the region," the MPsaid.
Azerbaijani MP Mushfig Jafarov told Trend that today Russian-Azerbaijani relationsare developing in a new context, which began to take shape in2020.
He noted that communication issues in the region are certainlybeing widely discussed in Russia at present. The return of fourGazakh villages by Armenia also means a step closer to the openingof communications.
"Our state builds partnerships in foreign policy based onnational interests. It is not easy to achieve this in a regionwhere the interests of large states collide. However, in recentyears, states that are major players in global politics havewitnessed how Azerbaijan defends its national interests. Allcooperation in the South Caucasus takes place within the frameworkof the national interests of our state," the MP said.
He emphasized that Azerbaijani-Russian relations are alsorapidly developing in accordance with the political will of theheads of state.
"The development of political relations between the twocountries at the highest level also has a positive impact on theexpansion of economic relations. Azerbaijan has always attachedgreat importance to mutually beneficial and equal relations withRussia. The development of Azerbaijani-Russian relations isimportant in terms of the progress of the region as a whole as wellas ensuring peace and security in the region. Our state considersmultifaceted cooperation to be in line with its national interestsand seeks to expand the partnership," Jafarov said.
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