The meeting took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, and was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Alexei Overchuk co-chairs the 22nd meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan
Alexei Overchuk with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev
Alexei Overchuk co-chairs the 22nd meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan
The 22nd meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan took place in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev. Representatives from relevant ministries and departments of both countries participated in the event.
The meeting participants reviewed the annual results of cooperation in various sectors, including trade and the economy, industry, energy, transport, agriculture, finance, healthcare, culture, science, interregional cooperation, education, and tourism.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk noted the dynamic growth of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, emphasising that Russia is a key economic partner of Azerbaijan, ranking third in the republic’s foreign trade.
“In our mutual trade, we are using our national currencies. By the end of 2023, they accounted for 57.8 percent of bilateral transactions, and this figure rose to 73.1 percent in January- May 2024,” the Russian co-chair of the commission emphasised.
The structure of Russian exports comprises chemical industry products, timber, pulp and paper products, food items, agricultural raw materials, and mineral resources. In turn, Russia imports food, agricultural raw materials, mineral resources, and chemical industry products from Azerbaijan.
Under the action plan for 2024–2026, which was signed in January this year, efforts are ongoing across seven key areas of Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation: trade, transport, industry, the agro-industrial complex, energy, information technology, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
The countries are strengthening their investment cooperation, with Russia ranking among the top four largest investors in Azerbaijan’s economy.
During the meeting, participants noted a high level of interregional cooperation. The format of interregional forums was recognised as a key platform for further development. For instance, approximately 700 representatives from 21 Russian regions and 5 Azerbaijani regions participated in the 12th Russian-Azerbaijani Interregional Forum, held in February 2024 in the Stavropol Territory.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the strong engagement between business communities, noting that over 10 business missions from Russian regions to Azerbaijan were organised in 2024.
The meeting participants assessed the progress made in enhancing foreign economic cooperation between Russian companies and Azerbaijani partners.
The Russian side also noted the robust cooperation between the agricultural sectors of both countries and confirmed keen interest in expanding the export of Russian agricultural products to the Azerbaijani market.
Cultural and humanitarian cooperation plays an important role in bilateral relations. In June 2024, large-scale Days of Russian Culture were held in Baku. The event became the first point in the implementation of the new interagency cultural programme for 2024–2026. Holding exchange film weeks has also become a tradition. Screenings of modern Russian films are planned to be held in Azerbaijan this fall.
“We appreciate Azerbaijan’s attitude towards Russian. Today, there are over 600 preschool institutions where instruction is carried out in Russian or includes studying it and over 300 educational institutions teaching in Russian, which had 140,000 students as of 2023,” Alexei Overchuk noted.
The Russian Sector operates in 18 Azerbaijan’s higher educational institutions, where instruction is also provided in Russian, for about 19,000 students.
Branches of Russian universities operate in Baku: of Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. In the 2023/2024 academic year, there were 1094 people.
The two countries develop cooperation in sports. Azerbaijani athletes take an active part in competitions held in Russia, such as the first Games of the Future international tournament, and the BRICS Sports Games, which were held for the first time in June in Kazan, as well as in the 8th Children of Asia International Sports Games in Yakutsk.
“Holding the 3rd CIS Games in Azerbaijan will be an important event next year. We are ready to continue the dialogue on how to pass on Russia’s experience in holding the CIS Games as well as other open-format events,” the Russian co-chair stressed.
Tourism was also a promising area of cooperation. Azerbaijan is a popular tourist destination among Russians. In the first quarter of 2024, the tourist flow increased by almost 40 percent compared with the same period in 2023. In September 2024, a representative office of the Tourism Bureau of the Republic of Azerbaijan is expected to open in Moscow.
“In the field of tourism, work is underway in all areas, starting from digitalisation and localisation of production of equipment needed for tourism to the development of ski and sea resorts, and nature routes. This year, a marketing strategy and a single brand (Discover Russia) have been launched. I would like to note that Russia does a lot of things to develop tourism and invites the Azerbaijanis to vacate here,” the deputy prime minister said.
Alexei Overchuk also proposed to turn attention to cooperation with the North Caucasus Federal District, adding that Russia was planning to deepen cooperation with international partners and carry out work to attract foreign tourists to visit the regions of the North Caucasus and investors to implement investment projects in the territory of the North Caucasus Federal District.
The countries continue to actively work within the framework of climate change cooperation.
“We are preparing for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Baku in November. Holding an event at this level is always a huge responsibility for the host country. We are confident that it will be a success,” the Russian co-chair of the commission said.
According to Alexei Overchuk, it is important to demonstrate that hydrocarbon exporting countries in fact share the principles of a fair transition to a low-carbon economy and take a very responsible approach to the green agenda.
“This year Russia presides at BRICS. We are planning to hold the High-Level Dialogue and the BRICS Forum on Climate Change in Moscow on 29–30 August and discuss a wide range of issues on the climate agenda with representatives of the public sector, businesses, and academia. We have completed work on the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and Azerbaijan on Climate Change and Low-Carbon Development. The document will serve as a foundation for studying the possibilities of using carbon market mechanisms and exchanging experience on adaptation to climate change. We also intend to more actively involve businesses in solving sustainable low-carbon development tasks as part of this memorandum. The document is to be signed in the near future,” the deputy prime minister said.
Preservation of water resources is an important area. “Our countries can see how critically the water level is going down in the Caspian Sea because of the climate change. Reducing climate risks causing not only water shortage, but also draughts as well as mountain areas and lands degrading is our regular task. We suggest beginning of experience exchange in the scientific and expert work. Specifically, we are ready to offer the results of our monitoring and model studies of the Caspian Sea and the Samur River ecosystems and preparation of Azerbaijani specialists for working on the national cadastre of greenhouse gas discharges and absorptions. We have prepared and delivered to Azerbaijan on a routine basis the draft declaration ”Mountains and Climate“ developed with the participation of relevant Russian experts. The document takes into account related initiatives of Central Asian countries to draw attention to the problems of mountain areas and glaciers, and also includes provisions on water. We are waiting for the response from our colleagues,” said Alexei Overchuk.
Participants in the meeting considered an issue of developing bilateral cooperation in the exchange of the smart city experience and best practices.
“We have accumulated major competences in urban development, improvement, security, healthcare, education, and transport safety. We are ready to exchange experience and best practices in this area,” noted the Deputy Prime Minister.
Following the meeting, Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan signed the final minutes of the Commission’s 22nd meeting.
The parties have confirmed their readiness to continue the constructive dialogue intended to strengthen Russia-Azerbaijan relations in all areas of cooperation.
