Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev who arrived in Tehran this morning to take part in a trilateral summit with Russian President Putin to discuss issues related to the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project.
During the meeting, President Rouhani said the Wednesday meeting was the tenth of its kind with the Azeri president, adding “this is a sign of the strong determination of the two countries to develop inclusive relations with each other.”
Rouhani said the development of economic ties depends on good banking relations, calling for investment and trade cooperation between the two sides in various fields, including construction of a pharmaceutical and automobile factory by Iran in Azerbaijan, as well as cooperation in other industrial and agricultural sectors, extra-territorial farming, energy swap in oil and gas, and exploration and exploitation of oil in the Caspian Sea.
"The inauguration of the Astara-Astara railway, as well as the construction of Rasht-Astara railway are important steps in the development of transit cooperation between the two countries,” Rouhani said. "This transit line can be used for transportation of goods from the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the Caucasus and Eastern Europe.”
Rouhani also highlighted the necessity of using national currency in trade and economic transactions between Tehran and Baku.
The Iranian president then touched upon regional issues and the need for joint efforts in fighting terrorism, adding “Syria and Yemen have reached a point where political efforts are required to restore stability to these countries.”
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for his part, voiced satisfaction with the development of trilateral cooperation between Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan, particularly with respect to transportation and the North-South Corridor, which would serve as an infrastructure for development in the region.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has played a significant role in establishing stability and security in the region and in fighting terrorism,” he added.
Aliyev also talked about the severe conditions of Muslims in Myanmar, expressing his country’s readiness to develop cooperation with Iran in sending humanitarian aid to the suppressed people.
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