Deepening Tehran-Baku ties beneficial to both countries, region/ Iran ready to build power plant in Azerbaijan
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed further development of Tehran-Baku relations in all fields of mutual interest and said that deepening these ties and cooperation is beneficial not only to both nations, but also to the region.
Speaking in a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Thursday evening in Baku, President Hassan Rouhani said, "With the efforts of senior officials of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan relations have increased to a satisfying level".
He went on to express satisfaction over the effective role of the economic cooperation commission of the two countries, saying, "In the field of industrial cooperation and auto industry, a good ground for cooperation has been provided and Iran is also ready to construct power plants in the Republic of Azerbaijan".
On the importance of completing the North-South Transit Route, he said, "Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have very good cooperation in this field, which we hope the final phases are followed more quickly".
Dr Rouhani also referred to the importance of creating preferential tariffs in trade for facilitating investment and joint ventures as a valuable step in further development of economic relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
He further stressed cementing relations between the two countries in Caspian Sea as the sea of friendship, peace and development, adding, "Iran is always ready to develop maritime relations and cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Zone in exploration and also environment".
On scientific and cultural cooperation between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the President continued, "Cooperation in scientific and cultural fields, as well as modern technologies should develop within the framework of cooperation among universities and research centres of the two countries".
Dr Rouhani referred to the two countries" common views in regional and international fields, saying, "The Iranian government and nation have always been alongside the Azerbaijani government and nation in international communities, and the two countries can contribute to more regional and global peace and security".
"Tehran, Baku and Moscow should develop their trilateral and bilateral cooperation," he said, adding that the relations should deepen.
Dr Rouhani also invited his Azerbaijani counterpart to make an official visit to Tehran.
During the meeting, the President of Azerbaijan described Dr Rouhani"s visit to Baku a good opportunity for development of relations.
"The deep cultural and historical bonds between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan is a good ground for further deepening of relations, which have considerably increased in your term of office," he said.
President Aliyev described the 70-percent growth in trade between the two countries in one year a praiseworthy record and said, "The two countries" cooperation within the framework of economic cooperation commission in the fields of energy, banking, industry and transportation have a good pace and the development of the North-South Corridor project is completely clear".
He also called on Iran to cooperate in constructing power plants in Azerbaijan and said, "Azerbaijan is ready to cooperate with Iran in maritime fields in the Caspian Zone, including exploration".
The Azerbaijani President stressed the tripartite summit of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia and called cooperation beneficial to the three countries.
On the importance of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, he said, "We want to defend all member states" interests within the framework of this movement".