Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin held expanded meeting

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held an expanded meeting with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin first posed for official photographs.

Welcoming the meeting participants, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear Mikhail Vladimirovich, dear guests. I am very pleased to welcome you to Azerbaijan. We met early this year and agreed on your visit. I am delighted that you have found time to visit Azerbaijan. I know that you met with our Prime Minister yesterday. As far as I know, you discussed an extensive range of essential issues in your interaction.

Since the beginning of the year, President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I have set a good tone and dynamics in our relations. We have met several times during the year. Just yesterday, we had the opportunity to talk on the phone on important issues of the bilateral agenda. So the presidents, as they say, set the tone for the entire spectrum of our relations. Of course, all relevant agencies are working in this direction.

Certainly, we are very pleased that the volume of mutual trade is reaching the pre-pandemic level, and I am confident that the dynamism will be continued. Because what is being discussed today, including the issues during your visit, will help us build up the potential for mutual trade. We also see good dynamics in the volume of cargo transportation. But as far as transit cargo is concerned, we are reaching record levels, somewhere around 50-60 percent, and there are excellent prospects for growth. Of course, in terms of transit and logistical infrastructure, we will build up the potential for mutual cooperation, primarily on a bilateral basis, and, of course, with the involvement of neighboring countries because Russia and Azerbaijan have been actively investing in transport and logistical infrastructure in our countries for many years. Indeed, strengthening the potential of transport corridors, primarily North-South, will be in the interests of all countries involved in this project and will open up additional prospects, including those for business.

I reviewed some statistics before your visit. I was pleased that the number of flights is growing rapidly. We have more than 130 flights a week, meaning we have practically reached the highest rate. The tourist flow from Russia is also growing. This year, there was a growth of around 80 percent – of course, there was also a drop due to the pandemic. We have not yet reached the pre-pandemic level, but I think we will. Taking into account the friendly relations between our countries, taking into account the fact that the Declaration on Allied Interaction was signed this year and we repeatedly demonstrated the allied nature of our relations throughout the year, given the fact that we expect to expand the agenda of trade and economic cooperation significantly, I think that the number of flights will grow.

I know that the Interregional Forum was successfully held yesterday. This is also an essential element of our bilateral cooperation. We maintain close ties with about 80 subjects of the Russian Federation. Of course, as part of this event, both in previous years and yesterday, I am sure that new tasks have been identified. So, the agenda is quite broad. We are working intensively on seven road maps. I am sure that approaching the end of the year with such good results, we will also set the same dynamism next year. Welcome again.

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Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin said:

-Thank you, dear Ilham Heydar oglu. First, I would like to thank you for inviting me to visit Azerbaijan. I am visiting your country as Prime Minister with great respect. I also want to thank you and the entire team of Ali Hidayat oglu for the very warm welcome extended to our delegation. We have a large delegation. Four heads of our regions are here, key regions that interact with Azerbaijan. Taking this opportunity, I want to congratulate you on the national holiday sincerely – National Revival Day, which was celebrated in Azerbaijan yesterday, and convey the best and sincerest wishes of the President of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. You mentioned that you spoke with him last night.

Our governments are working very hard to implement the decisions that you -our presidents, have made. Yesterday, Ali Asadov and I participated in the 11th interregional forum, which practically touched upon the entire agenda of mutual relations. The highest priority was the energy, industry, transportation, cultural and humanitarian spheres. As a result of the talks, we signed a number of agreements on the development of cooperation in various fields. The transportation sector is crucial. It is rather special. We are convinced that joint infrastructure and logistical projects will become a new driver for building up the entire range of cooperation. I want to note the western route – the North-South International Transportation Corridor. By 2030, we expect to increase its transportation volumes to 15 million tons annually.

We also traditionally attach particular importance to cultural and humanitarian ties. As you said, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations this year. A series of ceremonial events were held to coincide with this important event. Next year, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of an outstanding Soviet and Azerbaijani statesman, your father, Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev.

In Baku, as we noted yesterday, there are branches of our universities – Moscow State University and the First Moscow State Medical University named after Sechenov. They are operating successfully. More than 11,000 students from Azerbaijan are also studying in Russia. And such development of direct contacts between our people, their acquaintance with rich history, culture and traditions will strengthen our relations.

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The head of state thanked for Vladimir Putin’s best wishes and asked the Prime Minister to extend his best wishes to the Russian President.