Ali Asadov: Azerbaijan and Russia consider new cooperation initiatives

Azerbaijan and Russia are considering several new cooperation initiatives, particularly in the oil and gas sector, Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov said during talks with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin in Baku, according to Report.

"Several new mutually beneficial initiatives are under consideration. Azerbaijan is the homeland of oil and gas. This was relevant yesterday, is relevant today, and will remain so for a long time. And Russia is a leader in many aspects of the energy sector," said Asadov.

He added that he particularly wants to highlight the cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector. "Our interaction here is developing positively in many directions," noted Azerbaijan's Prime Minister, reminding that several major Russian oil and gas companies operate in the country.

"We traditionally have very productive cooperation with these companies," Asadov stated.

The Azerbaijani Prime Minister also emphasized that "Russia is an important partner for us in the agricultural sector." "This applies to both the export of our products and the import of Russian agricultural products to Azerbaijan," he explained.

Asadov reported that by the end of 2023, agricultural exports from Azerbaijan to Russia increased by more than 9%, and this year - by more than 12%. "Russia, in turn, is also a reliable partner. We import at least 1 million tons of wheat from Russia, and for the first 10 months of 2024, it will be almost 900,000 tons, and this number will grow," said Asadov.

He added that Azerbaijan imports many fertilizers from Russia: "This year, over eight months, we have already imported 107,000 tons."

Overall, Azerbaijan's Prime Minister noted the "good dynamics" of bilateral relations with Russia. "Azerbaijan aims to further strengthen and enhance good-neighborly relations, mutually beneficial cooperation, and strategic partnership with Russia," he assured.

Asadov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Baku in August gave good momentum to bilateral relations, particularly in trade and economic spheres. "Judging by the growth dynamics of mutual trade, this year we can assume that a new record will be set: according to our data, our trade turnover for the first nine months amounted to 3.5 billion dollars," he noted.