President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, who is attending the 7th Global Baku Forum.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani first held a one-on-one meeting.

They exchanged views on various areas of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as prospects of the economic ties.

The meeting continued with the participation of the two countries` delegations.

The head of state thanked the Afghan President for his visit to Azerbaijan and his participation in the 7th Global Baku Forum. President Ilham Aliyev noted that this visit will create new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in economic, trade, energy and other spheres. The head of state pointed out that cooperation between the two countries in the transport field opened up new opportunities for developing the bilateral ties. The importance of holding regular mutual meetings between the two countries` presidents was stressed.

The presidents praised Azerbaijan`s contributions to ensuring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani thanked Azerbaijan for supporting Lapis Lazuli transport project, and hailed the two countries` cooperation in the transport sphere.

The Afghan President emphasized the importance of cooperation in energy, transport, construction, economic, trade, educational, agricultural and other areas in terms of developing the bilateral relations, adding that there are big prospects for expanding the relations in these fields.

Then Azerbaijan-Afghanistan documents were signed with the participation of the two countries` presidents.

Chairman of “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC Javid Gurbanov and Acting Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, Adviser on Infrastructure and Technology to the President Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi signed “The Memorandum of Intent on Cooperation between “Azerbaijan Railways” Closed Joint Stock Company and Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA)”.

Azerbaijan`s Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade and Acting Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, Adviser on Infrastructure and Technology to the President Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi signed “The Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the Field of Information and Communication Technologies”.

Azerbaijan`s Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev and Acting Minister of Information and Culture of Afghanistan Hasina Safi signed “The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the Field of Culture”.