Tehran, Baku stress expansion of ties

TEHRAN, Mar. 18 (MNA) – Iran’s head of joint economic commission’s meeting with Azerbaijan held talks with Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in Baku where the two sides called for expansion of bilateral ties in all areas. Iranian ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi who chairs Iran-Azerbaijan’s Joint Economic Commission, headed a delegation to Baku on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at following up on the implementation of agreements signed between the two sides. During a meeting with Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on Friday, Vaezi deemed the neighboring country as a communication gate between Iran and the Caucasus countries in the field of transport while stressing Iran’s role as a bridge between Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf and the high seas. Vaezi noted the various meetings of the two countries’ presidents in the last three years and the exchange of many trade delegations that has led to the signing of agreements, adding “there are many objectives to be achieved in the fields of health, industry, agriculture and culture, and the two sides are ready to expand cooperation on these areas.” Noting the 70 per cent increase in trade transactions between Tehran and Baku, the Iranian minister called for support from the private sectors of both countries. “Iran is ready to build a hospital in Baku for offering medical services to the Azerbaijani people,” he added. Mehriban Aliyeva, for her part, maintained that the mutual visits of Iranian and Azerbaijani presidents indicate the high level of relations between the two countries. She further voiced her country’s keen interest in expanding cultural cooperation with Iran.