The meeting was held as part of Mikhail Mishustin’s working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
Excerpts from transcript:
Ilham Aliyev: Mr Mishustin, guests, welcome! I am glad to see you again in Azerbaijan.
I know that yesterday you had a very fruitful meeting with your counterpart; he reported to me this morning about its good results and our future plans.
We have completed the year successfully. Bilateral interaction is developing as planned. We have been cooperating within our allied cooperation for just over two years, and all the tasks that were set in terms of strengthening cooperation are being successfully accomplished.
As for the trade and economic sphere, I also think that the results are quite satisfactory: an increase of more than 17 percent. I think this is a good indicator. We are already approaching the $4.5 billion mark.
Of course, this is not the limit, and I am sure that under the agreements that were reached during the visit, we will see an even greater increase in mutual trade next year, and even at the end of this year.
I am happy that industrial cooperation projects are being implemented. This is a relatively new sphere of our cooperation. Russian companies create new production facilities and service centres in Azerbaijan, and all of this promotes more comprehensive cooperation in industry.
I had a look at the materials on agriculture before your visit. We are complementing each other. We purchase what we need from you, and vice versa. We are also pleased that the significant increase in Azerbaijani agricultural products supplied to the Russian market continues successfully, as we agreed.
And, of course, we can also see an increase in both transit traffic and bilateral cargo transportation in the transport and logistics sector, which you talked a lot about yesterday, with corresponding documents signed. The international North-South transport corridor is a project that unites our countries, and we are, as you know, implementing all the necessary issues through close cooperation.
As we know, infrastructure exists both on Azerbaijani territory, and on Russian territory. The only thing is that it needs upgrading so that it is possible to transport larger volumes of cargo than planned.
And of course, the humanitarian sphere. Here, I think relations between Russia and Azerbaijan are a good example of relations between two neighbouring friendly states.
Twenty-six Azerbaijani universities teach in the Russian language. More than 16,000 students, citizens of Azerbaijan, study in Russian, 324 secondary schools also teach in Russian. We have kept all the good things that have united our peoples for decades. And regardless of the socio-political system in which we interacted, friendly ties between our peoples have always been the foundation of our interstate relations.
And today, when interstate relations have reached a qualitatively new level both in form and content, naturally, this is supported by the people in our countries.
So, I am confident that, like last year, we will end this year with good results. Our allied cooperation will be strengthened for the benefit of our countries and peoples. It is also an important factor of regional stability and security.
I welcome you once again. And I would like to wish you a happy trip, because your visit is coming to an end. And of course, I believe that it would be useful to hold regular meetings like this at the heads of government level, similar to the regular heads of state meetings.
Mikhail Mishustin: Dear Mr Aliyev, friends.
First of all, I would like to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart on your convincing victory in the early elections for President of Azerbaijan held on February 7. This is a high assessment by the Azerbaijani people of all the efforts and achievements made in your country under your leadership. And of course, taking this opportunity, I would like to convey best wishes from President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
Respected head of the Azerbaijani Government Ali Asadov and I are in constant contact and hold meetings regularly. In December, we met in Moscow at the Commonwealth of Independent States forum and before that we met in Sochi. I also visited Azerbaijan recently. I would like to assure you that absolutely every decision taken by the leaders of our states are under constant control and are being implemented by our governments.
Yesterday we discussed our large bilateral agenda. You mentioned several areas. Yes, there are more and more projects in industry. Specifically, we are considering a joint project in transport equipment manufacturing. There is also the large and promising area of technology innovation projects. We are working on agriculture – you mentioned mutual complementation. We also have a number of questions on pharmaceuticals, and yesterday we agreed to strengthen our cooperation here.
As a matter of fact, the entire list of collaborative projects is currently under control. And this is evidenced by the figures of mutual trade and economic turnover. You talked about growth being about 17 percent. That’s exactly what it is.
I would also like to mention that our border crossing capacities have increased fivefold. This is also a big programme, which is being carried out by our Ministry of Transport together with our esteemed colleagues from Azerbaijan. And we continue with all relevant logistics projects in this area. You mentioned the North-South corridor. Indeed, 30 million tonnes is a serious amount. And of course, a lot needs to be done to ensure that there are no bottlenecks along these sections.
I would also like to say that we have held, with great respect, the commemorative events dedicated to the 100th birth anniversary of your father, the honourable Heydar Aliyev. He is remembered and honoured in Russia.
There are many projects, ideas on cultural exchanges, issues related to cooperation in this field. We have agreed to expand our contacts, including with the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, we are working on a road map for a large number of events. And of course, we will be glad to see respected cultural figures and artists from Azerbaijan in Russia, in Moscow.
Thank you and your colleagues for the warm and traditionally hospitable welcome given to the Russian delegation.
