The First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council took part in an event in the Stavropol Territory.
First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Andrey Yatskin took part in the 12th Russia-Azerbaijan Interregional Forum in the Stavropol Territory.
The Russian Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of the Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan organised the forum.
Addressing a plenary meeting, Andrey Yatskin noted that the forum had gained a reputation as an effective and well-regarded platform for partner dialogue and cooperation between the two counties.
“Just over a year has passed since the last forum in Baku in November 2022. As co-chair of the Russian party in the Interparliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the Federal Assembly of the Russsian Federation and the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I can say with satisfaction that bilateral relations have made considerable headway over this period,” the Senator said.
Andrey Yatskin said that, later this year, the governments of both countries were set to implement a road map for economic interaction until 2026. The document stipulates practical measures to develop trade and economic, investment, transport, industrial, agriculture and other cooperation areas.
“The Interparliamentary Commission has gained a reputation as an effective mechanism for parliamentary interaction. Our regular meetings promote further bilateral cooperation,” the First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council said.
According to Andrey Yatskin, interregional cooperation with over 70 Russian regions is making a substantial contribution to the development of Russian-Azerbaijani relations. In all, 18 agreements on trade and economic, science and technological and cultural cooperation between Russia’s regions and Azerbaijan’s regions have been enacted.
Andrey Yatskin noted that the development of the new North-South transport corridor was becoming particularly important for economic interaction. “As instructed by Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko, the senators visited vehicle checkpoints in the Republic of Daghestan to assess the situation. We expect that these checkpoints will increase freight volumes between our countries,” the Senator said.
He also emphasised the potential for cooperation in tourism and the development of humanitarian ties, including in education. About 340 Russian-language schools currently operate in Azerbaijan, and centres for Russian language studies are also open. About 8,000 students from Azerbaijan study at Russian universities, including about 1,000 at federal expense.
Andrey Yatskin expressed confidence that this forum would promote the future development of partner relations between the two countries, and that it would help in signing new agreements in the main areas of interaction.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev, First Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Huseynli and other officials took part in the forum.