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Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 7
By Seymur Aliyev, Umid Niayesh – Trend:
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iran is rapidly expanding in various fields.
The ultimate goal of Iran, Azerbaijan is to develop free trade, Rouhani said at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, Aug. 7, Trend's correspondent reported from the event.
During the last three years, Iran-Azerbaijan ties have been developing and good steps were taken for boosting the relations, Rouhani said.
Iran is negotiating with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) on custom tariffs, and is interested to reach similar agreements with Azerbaijan in this regard as well, Rouhani said.
Tehran is expecting to reach a deal with the Russia-led EEU on reducing export tariffs this year.
Iranian president also underlined the importance of banking ties between the two countries, saying that developing banking relations will contribute to boosting mutual economic ties.
“We try to enhance banking ties to a level which lead to the development of mutual trade and economic relations in all fields, Rouhani said referring to the banking document signed between the two countries’ central banks.
He further said that important steps also were taken in the fields of ties between the countries in the area of investment, industry and technology including a car-manufacturing project with annual output capacity of 10,000 cars in Azerbaijan to meet the demands of Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries.
Rouhani also said that steps will be taken for cooperation in the pharmaceutical field, which will be a beginning point as well for mutual industrial and technological relations between the two countries.
He also said that the two sides have reached general agreement to work together in the field of oil and gas in Caspian Sea.
The two countries will invest in the field of tourism and will work to increase th direct flights, Rouhani said.
The Iranian president further said that Iran and Azerbaijan discussed ways to cope with regional terrorism.
There is unanimity that extremism has surpassed the region and violence is now an issue entailing strong cooperation of the countries, especially Iran and Azerbaijan, Rouhani added.
He also called for boosting cooperation in the fields of cultural issues, universities and high-tech.