Details added (first version posted on 10:29)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27
Trend:
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Minister of Information and Communications Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Vaezi December 27.
The president said 2016 occupies a particular place in the history of Azerbaijan-Iran relations. He hailed the meetings which were held throughout the year, including a very fruitful meeting with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani.
President Aliyev also underlined the signing of important agreements between the two countries, saying they have already been implemented.
President Aliyev expressed his confidence that 2017 will also be successful, and that friendly relations will be further strengthened and vital projects will be implemented by the two countries. He praised the role of the joint intergovernmental commission in expanding bilateral ties between the two countries.
The president described the launch of Nakhchivan-Tabriz-Tehran-Mashhad international passenger train on December 29 as a landmark event, and hoped it will be a success.
Vaezi congratulated the president on the occasion of his birthday. He also extended New Year greetings to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan.
Vaezi conveyed greetings of President Rouhani to President Aliyev. He noted that the Iranian president gave him instructions on the implementation of the recommendations of President Aliyev within the meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission and the preparation of a road map for the development of relations between the two countries in 2017.
President Aliyev and Vaezi hailed the successful development of Azerbaijan-Iran bilateral relations in a variety of fields, including the increase in trade exchange, investment making, transportation, agriculture and other areas.
The sides underlined the importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries' regions, describing the successful continuation of the construction of a car factory in Neftchala and the forthcoming groundbreaking ceremony for a pharmaceutical plant in Pirallahi as a good example of Azerbaijan-Iran economic cooperation.
Hailing the importance of Azerbaijan-Iran business forum to be held in Nakhchivan, they expressed their confidence that the forum will contribute to further expansion of economic and trade relations between the two countries
President Aliyev thanked for the greetings of President Rouhani, and asked the minister to communicate his greetings to the Iranian president.