The relationship between Baku and Moscow has reached a qualitatively new level, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said, Interfax reports.
"We've retained all the good things that have united our peoples for decades, and regardless of the sociopolitical system in which we interacted, friendly ties between our peoples have always served as a foundation of relations between our countries. And today, when relations between our countries have reached a qualitatively new level both in their shape and essence, it's natural that the communities in our countries also support this," Aliyev said when meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Wednesday.
Aliyev said he was sure that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia would see good results in 2024.
"Our allied interaction will strengthen to the benefit of our countries and peoples. This is also an important factor in regional stability and security," he said.
All objectives to bolster cooperation between the two countries have been achieved successfully, and trade between them has grown 17% to near $4.5 billion, he said.
"Certainly, this is not a limit, and I am sure that we'll see our mutual trade grow even more this year and next year in line with the agreements that have been reached during [the Russian prime minister's] visit [to Azerbaijan]," he said.
Mishustin congratulated Aliyev on confidently winning the recent presidential election.
"This is a high evaluation given by the Azerbaijani people of all the efforts and achievements made in your country under your leadership," Mishustin said.
His visit included discussions on a broad spectrum of bilateral relations, including in the industrial sector, such as transport machinery construction, as well as the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors and promising avenues of innovative technology projects, he said.
