Baku, Tehran eager to develop economic ties despite the pandemic

Baku and Iran weighed plans to promote the commercial relationship between the two neighbors regardless of the new coronavirus outbreak, Report says, citing Tasnim.

In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Chief of Staff of the Iranian president Mahmoud Vaezi and Hikmat Hajiev, head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration, called for the continuation of economic exchanges between the two neighbors in conformity with the health protocols, stressing that there is no obstacle to the enhancement of cooperation.

Vaezi commended Azerbaijan for its timely decision to convene an online summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group earlier this week, adding, "The Republic of Azerbaijan, as the holder of the NAM presidency, did not only allow the coronavirus outbreak to prevent the summit meeting but also took a valuable step in coordinating collective action among the countries in the battle with the disease by choosing the issue of coronavirus as the main topic of the conference."

For his part, Hajiev conveyed gratitude of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev  to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for participation in the online summit of the NAM Contact Group and the topics of his speech in the conference, saying it would strengthen the Non-Aligned Movement.

The Republic of Azerbaijan attaches great significance to the promotion of cooperation with Iran in all fields, Hajiev said, adding that Aliyev has made it clear for all Azerbaijani authorities that the outbreak of the coronavirus should not obstruct the growing trend in cooperation between Baku and Tehran.

He expressed hope that the two neighbors would strengthen economic and trade cooperation and exchanges by observing the health protocols and sharing the experiences in the battle with COVID-19.