Russian-Azerbaijani inter-regional forum opens in Yekaterinburg

By Nigar Orujova - AzerNews 

The sixth Russian-Azerbaijani inter-regional forum started its work at the International Exhibition Center in Yekaterinburg on September 30.

Organized jointly by the Russian Economic Development Ministry and the Economy and Industry Ministry of Azerbaijan, the traditional large-scale event brings together members of government, parliamentarians, diplomats, and heads of the regions of the two countries.

The delegation of Azerbaijan is headed by Ali Hasanov, Assistant to the president on socio-political issues and Head of the Department of Social and Political Issues of the Presidential Administration.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed a letter to the forum participants that was read out by Hasanov.

President Aliyev noted that this year the event is held in Yekaterinburg – the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk region, which has traditionally close economic and trade ties with Azerbaijan.

“Large Azerbaijani Diaspora is playing an important role in saving and strengthening of these ties, and actively participating in the socio-political, socio-economic and cultural life of the region,” the message said.

The president said that inter-regional forums have shown their viability and effectiveness in a relatively short period.

“They are considered to be marketable platform where positions coordinated and efforts consolidated to work together, business contacts established and prospects for their expansion discussed. In other words, constructive and open dialogue held at these meetings allows to establish direct mutually beneficial relations between Azerbaijan and subjects of the Russian Federation,” the letter reads.

The format of the forum makes it possible to consider a wide range of issues, ranging from trade, economic and investment partnership and up to the cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, according to President Aliyev.

Hailing the fact that a separate round table with the participation of students, young researchers and entrepreneurs from both sides operates under the current event, President Aliyev said such interactive platform helps not only search for more efficient forms and areas of cooperation, but also contributes to the acquisition of new friends and like-minded youth.

“It is no secret that the prospects for development of relations between our states depend on the today’s young generation, having high intelligence and communication skills,” the message said.

Assessing the current state of the Azerbaijani-Russian relations, the president said that due to joint efforts they reached the level of strategic partnership.

The head of state expressed confidence that the forum will give new impetus to deepen integration processes and further the rapprochement of the two countries.

The forum will include expert meetings and round tables, in which the representatives of industry and business, heads of enterprises of different economic sectors, heads of administrations of frontier territories will discuss the problems of integration relations and cooperation in the fields of transport, communications, tourism, humanitarian and educational spheres. Particular attention will be given to direct contacts of regions of Russian and Azerbaijan.

The event will see signing of a number of bilateral documents, in particular, the agreement between the Russian Council on the development of foreign trade and international economic relations and the Azerbaijani Fund for Export and Investment Promotion, as well as a number of promising investment projects.

For the first time the forum will also host the Russian-Azerbaijani Youth Forum, which can also become a tradition.